Auditor

Les Boggs

• Office Sought: Lawrence County Auditor

• Party: Republican

• Age: 58

• Residence: Coal Grove

• Professional background: Owned several businesses, private business owner – 115 employees – sold to national company; Taught at college level for 12 years; RN, respiratory therapist; 15 years public service.

• Occupation: Registered Nurse

• Political Experience: Dawson-Bryant Board of Education – three years; Lawrence County Clerk of Courts – four years; Lawrence County Commissioner – eight years

• Civic Involvement: Coal Grove Lion’s Club; Member of Mamre Baptist Church; Founder of Wheeling Sportsman event for physically-challenged individuals.

• What will your top priority be if elected to office? To correct the way commercial property is being appraised and give fair residential appraisals for homeowners.

• What makes you the best candidate for the job? Strong financial background – as commissioner, helped bring Lawrence County to stronger financial state; Already understand budget; Critical thinking and problem solver

• What professional accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? Started a County Prescription Plan to help residents without insurance or capped insurance; Worked with several teams to bring St. Mary’s ER, Gateway Project, secured money for cement plant razing; Changed dog pound to adoption shelter (5/3/2013 Ironton Tribune) (…)

• What would you do to increase bipartisanship and cooperation in our government? Call for quarterly office holders meetings (both parties) to discuss issues we all could work on together

• Other comments (30 words or less): I will bring that same commitment to the auditor’s office as I did commissioner. My open door policy will allow all Lawrence County residents to express concerns and get needed assistance.

Vallery Dyer

• Office Sought: Lawrence County Auditor

• Party: Republican

• Age: 51

• Residence: Getaway

• Professional background: 30 years of management, construction and finance

• Occupation: Property manager of multi-family dwellings

• Political experience: No prior political experience

• Civic involvement: Enjoy being active serving the needs of our senior citizens.

• What will your top priority be if elected to office? Top priority will be to seek fair solutions to the challenges of higher taxes affecting our citizens and businesses.

• What makes you the best candidate for the job? My work ethic in that I am goal oriented, task driven and I’m not in it for a title or a job. My motive is to simply make positive difference.

• What professional accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? Starting my own construction company; building, remodeling homes and apartment buildings from ideas to completion.

• What would you do to increase bipartisanship and cooperation in our government? It is critical that we unite and focus on our common values; not be divided by petty party differences. We must build relationships and work together to achieve progress.

• Other comments (30 words or less): I want to work with and for the citizens of Lawrence County to build a better life for our loved ones and neighbors in the future.

Paul David Knipp

• Office Sought: County Auditor

• Party: Republican

• Age: 45

• Residence: Hecla (Outside of Ironton)

• Professional background: 12 years as a practicing attorney. One as an assistant prosecutor in Jackson Ohio. I taught Middle School for five years prior to law school.

• Occupation: Currently serving as the county auditor.

• Political Experience: Elected to three terms as a member of the Rock Hill Local Board of Education. Served 10 years prior to being appointed as the auditor.

• Civic Involvement: Member of the Lions Club, Jeremiah 38 Ministries. Former volunteer fireman with the Upper Township Volunteer Fire Dept.

• What will your top priority be if elected to office? Maintaining an open door to meet and talk to the residents of the county and their concerns. Also continuing to provide information about the county’s finances on the web site and improving the accessibility to that information.

• What makes you the best candidate for the job? I was appointed to and serving in the position since October. Prior to that time, I served as a member of the Rock Hill Local Board of Education. I am familiar with budgeting and maintaining compliance with budgetary constraints. (…)

• What professional accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? I am most proud of gaining positive outcomes for my clients and helping them through very difficult times in their lives. I would have to list successful adoptions as my most fulfilling legal work.

• What would you do to increase bipartisanship and cooperation in our government? I am willing to talk and work with any other office holder for the betterment of the county.

• Other comments (30 words or less): As I have served as the auditor, I have enjoyed meeting with and discussing the concerns of the residents of the county. I would greatly appreciate everyone’s vote on March 17.

Other candidates: Jason Tolliver