WILMINGTON — Republican primary candidates shared why they are running for office at a candidate forum on Monday night.

The contested candidates for the two Clinton County Commissioner seats and county prosecutor position shared their thoughts on homeless issues, solar farms and other talking points at the forum at Wilmington High School.

May Stewart (formerly Gerchak) is running against incumbent commissioner, Brenda Woods, who was first elected in 2016. The other incumbent commissioner, Kerry Steed, first elected in 2012, is being challenged by Blanchester council member, Reilly Hopkins, and Shane Lieurance.

For Clinton County Prosecutor, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Kaitlin Wilkin and former Wilmington Safety/Service Director Brian Shidaker are competing for the seat. Andrew McCoy, the incumbent county prosecutor, is running for Clinton County Common Pleas Judge.

Among the questions that were asked by audience members at the forum, the commissioner candidates were asked their thoughts on solar farms. All of the candidates spoke out against the installation of the farms.

Stewart advised she didn’t initially know anything about it, but after discussing it with locals she feels that it would be “a mistake” to install them. Steed and Woods highlighted that they signed legislation opposing the installation of solar farms.

“We’re number seven in the state of Ohio with regards to corn production. We’re number 12 with regard to soybean production. That equates to the fact that Clinton County has some of the best producing farm ground in the State of Ohio,” said Steed.

Woods mentioned that no one would look at the solar farms once installed, which concerned her.

All of the contested candidates were asked about the homeless/vagrant issues in the county. Lieurance advised the need to support law enforcement regarding dealing with the vagrancy issue.

“I was raised by a law enforcement office and have been around law enforcement my entire life,” said Lieurance. “I feel that we need to support them to help get rid of the vagrants.”

Hopkins said the “most important thing that we can do as county officials is give the sheriff’s department what they need to do their job.” He advised he would get the resources needed to the sheriff’s department to be able to do their job.

Steed mentioned how he and Woods signed legislation to perform a study and assess the homeless issue. He also advised that those who aren’t holding themselves accountable can either “change their life in this community or they change it somewhere else.”

Stewart said “compassion is the way to go,” but also believes in teaching those individuals to “want more for themselves.”

Shidaker advised as a prosecutor his focus would be to focus on the crimes regardless of whether one is homeless or not. Wilkin said these “multi-layered issues” need to be given a “multi-level approach.”

The GOP primary election is set to take place on March 19. The Clinton County GOP plans on hosting a similar event on Monday, Feb. 5 for state and federal candidates.

Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574