GREENVILLE — Agriculture, economic development and a desire to preserve Darke County as a place where future generations can live and work are driving David Coons’ campaign for county commissioner.
Coons, the Republican candidate, met with residents Saturday morning at the Darke County Republican Party headquarters, 411 Broadway. The gathering gave voters an opportunity to discuss his background, community involvement, and reasons for seeking office.
A lifelong Darke County resident, Coons said his family plays a central role in his decision to run. He and his wife, Elizabeth, his high school sweetheart and the former Elizabeth Heitkamp, have six children and are expecting their seventh.
“When people ask me why I am running for Darke County commissioner, it’s because I love Darke County,” Coons said. “I think it’s a great place. It’s a great place to live and work, and I want to make sure we keep it that way.”
Coons said he wants his children and eventual grandchildren to see a future for themselves in the county.
“I want my family to want to stay here, to want to build this community into something even bigger and better and stronger than what it is today,” he said.
His professional background includes working with farmers and agricultural businesses in the insurance industry. He also serves on the Darke Rural Electric board and is involved in the Darke County Community Improvement Corporation.
Coons said those responsibilities have given him experience with issues involving agriculture, infrastructure, and economic development that come before county commissioners.
Although he did not grow up on a farm, Coons said marrying into a farming family helped deepen his understanding of agriculture. His insurance career has also given him insight into the operations and financial concerns of agricultural businesses.
“I work almost exclusively with agribusiness farms,” Coons said.
He said the work involves understanding the people behind those businesses, their operating costs, and the challenges they face in staying profitable.
“All facets of our economy are important, obviously,” Coons said. “But I think that agriculture is potentially even more important in Darke County than maybe other counties surrounding us, other counties across the state.”
Former Republican state Rep. Jim Buchy attended the gathering and voiced his support for Coons. Buchy pointed to the candidate’s local roots, business experience, and commitment to his family.
“Here is another young man who is a native of this area, who understands the people, who also knows that government needs to be efficiently run with the tax dollars,” Buchy said.
Buchy said Coons represents a generation positioned to continue the county’s progress.
“He’s in the generation we’re talking about to carry on with the success of Darke County,” Buchy said.
Coons said Buchy’s support matters because of his experience in agriculture and public service. The two joined a panel at the Great Darke County Fair to discuss potential agricultural careers with local young people.
“I really, really appreciate his support,” Coons said.
Coons also discussed his working relationship with county Commissioner Matt Aultman, including their service with the Darke County Community Improvement Corporation.
He said their involvement in economic development and attendance at community and business events have helped establish a professional relationship that would be valuable if he is elected.
“I think that those relationships are of the utmost importance when it comes to actually getting things done within the county,” Coons said.
Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker also attended Saturday’s gathering. Coons said he appreciates the sheriff’s participation in community activities, recalling seeing him at a Farm Bureau legislative luncheon when Coons began becoming more involved locally.
“I really like to see his involvement in the community more than just his position as a sheriff, more than just law enforcement,” Coons said.
His service on the Darke Rural Electric board marked his first elected position. Coons said he has represented his district and its townships for about nine years, with that work leading to opportunities at the state and national levels.
“That was the first position I was ever elected to, and so you could say it kind of set me on the path to do what I’m doing here today,” he said.
Coons said he previously represented a four-state region — Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and West Virginia — on a national director advisory group for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
He currently serves as Region 4 director on the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange board, combining his insurance experience with his work in the electric cooperative industry.
“It all goes back to the local community here,” Coons said. “It all goes back to Darke County.”
Robert Hanseman, a judge on the Second District Court of Appeals, traveled from Centerville to attend the event and meet Coons. Darke County is within the court’s jurisdiction.
“I got an invitation for the event, and I like to support local candidates,” Hanseman said.
After meeting Coons, Hanseman spoke favorably of his background.
“He seems like a wonderful guy, and he has a great background,” Hanseman said. “I’m very, very impressed with him.”
Coons said faith and family guide his approach to public service and his belief that elected officials should act with integrity.
“We want to do things for the right reasons,” he said. “We want to do everything the right way.”
The Darke County Republican Party headquarters is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
Yard signs, campaign literature, voter registration information, and other election materials are available. Residents are invited to visit to learn about candidates and issues on the November ballot.
