7 vie for 2 seats on county board of commissioners

Seven people are seeking two seats on the Highland County Board of Commissioners, with both races set for primaries in March. 

Greenfield Village Council member Brenda Losey, a Democrat, has filed to run for commissioner against incumbent Republican Shane Wilkin. 

Wilkin is facing a primary against Republican challenger Steve Cowdrey. 

Wednesday, Dec. 7 was the last day to file petitions to run for the March 2012 primary. 

"I decided to run because I would like to see Greenfield represented a little more," Losey said. "It has also been a very long time since there was a female commissioner, and it's time for some change. I've kind of got my feet wet serving on city council, and I've enjoyed my time on council. I'm ready to spread my wings now and go a little further."

Losey is currently unemployed and said that she empathizes with the struggles that local people have gone through with job loss. She volunteers with the Greenfield Exempted Village Schools and leads a grief sharing program at the Presbyterian Church in Greenfield.  

Cowdrey lives in New Market and is a real estate agent at Real Living Classic Real Estate. He has worked at Hobart and ABX Air, and attended Southern State Community College, pursuing a degree in business management.  

"I understand budgets and business, and I understand that it's not always easy," Cowdrey said. "But I'm willing to work, and I really love working with people. I listen to what people have to say, and I try to be a real representative to them." 

Wilkin, a Lynchburg resident, is a real estate agent at Prudential Chambers Realty and is completing his first term on the board of commissioners. 

"I am proud of the work that we have been able to do as a commission, and I want to continue to work for the people of Highland County."

Incumbent Republican Tom Horst will face fellow Republican Terry Mikkelsen in the March primary. 

In November, the winner of that race will face the winner of the primary race between Josh Patton and Randy Mustard. 

Horst, a retired Highland County Sheriff who lives in Hillsboro but is originally from Lynchburg, said that he feels that he has a lot left to contribute to the community. 

"There are a lot of projects that we have started as commissioners and a lot of things I want to see through," Horst said. 

Mikkelsen, a Hillsboro resident, is the owner of Tech-T Productions and works for Mac Printing Company. He ran in the race for Hillsboro mayor, losing in the May primary. Mikkelsen said that he wants to contribute to the community and that Highland County is ready for new leadership. 

"I have had a desire to do something for the community, and that didn't go away, even after I lost the mayor's race," Mikkelsen said. "I feel like I'm being led to do something for the county. As far as the people who live here, we're ready to work. The DHL thing has come and gone, we've licked our wounds, and now we're ready to to get back to work instead of feeling bad for ourselves. It's more of a mindset. The people of the county are ready to get back to work. We need a government that is ready to get back to work, too." 

Mustard has served as a Paint Township Trustee for 16 years. He is self-employed and lives in the Rocky Fork Lake area. Mustard said that after 16 years of public service working with the townships, he feels that he is prepared to serve the entire county and bring geographic diversity to the board. 

    "It's nothing new," Mustard said. "They just work with a lot larger number. And it would be nice to have a commissioner from the southeast part of the county instead of everyone originally being from Lynchburg," Mustard said.

Patton, a Berrysville resident, is president of the Highland County Board of Realtors and an owner of First Advantage Realty and Auction, LLC. He said that although this is the first time he has sought public office, his experience running a successful local business in a difficult economy will be a benefit to taxpayers. 

  "The economy being the way it has been for the past few years, it has been horrible," Patton said. "With me being successful in the real estate field, but also starting my own business and being able to manage my funds and budget, I can bring that expertise to Highland County."