ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — The Athens County Treasurer will be the only contested race on the March 19 Democratic Party primary ballot, with Nelsonville City Auditor Taylor Sappington facing Athens City Council member Beth Clodfelter.
Sappington and Clodfelter are both Democrats and are seeking the office for the first time. Incumbent Treasurer Ric Wasserman declined to pursue a third term, citing the “principle of citizen-government.”
Clodfelter announced her campaign in November. At that time, she told the Independent she would bring her financial management and work with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office to the position and said she would focus on “continuing and expanding” the Athens County Land Bank.
Read more: Beth Clodfelter enters county treasurer race
Sappington subsequently announced his campaign for what he described as “an incredibly important seat at the county level — important not just to daily operations, but to funding and, frankly, accountability and transparency across Athens County.”
“What I’m going to bring is fresh eyes and fresh energy, tempered by eight years worth of experience,” Sappington said. “I’m going to come in and be willing to listen to folks who maybe haven’t been listened to in a long time, maybe their entire careers — but I’m also going to be willing to stand up to anyone who I think maybe isn’t being completely forthright or honest.”
He said his priorities would be ensuring the county’s financial processes and procedures “are not just safe and effective, but efficient for the employee.” He also said he would “focus heavily on the county land bank.”
“I want to make sure that the land bank is really listening to the local officials and residents,” he said. “The changing of the guard, so to speak, the changing of the treasurer’s office — that is a pretty key moment for any institution, including the land bank, and so I want to make sure we get it right.”
Sappington served four years on Nelsonville City Council following his election in 2015, and has now served four years as Nelsonville City Auditor. He received a bachelor of arts in political science and government from Ohio University in 2015, and a master of public administration from OU in 2023, according to his LinkedIn.
These experiences, along with “just my worldview and believing in good government for good people, made me think I could do good work in that seat, and I’m pretty confident that I’d be a good choice for Athens County,” Sappington said.
He said his role as Nelsonville City Auditor in particular has prepared him for the treasurer role.
“Day to day in the auditor’s office, I’ve really gotten the financial chops: processing all receipts in processing all invoices out; putting in financial protections for the taxpayer; getting all transactions online for transparency, for the first time in city’s history; and then just frankly, just working hard on holding dishonest people to account,” he said.
Shortly after starting as Nelsonville City Auditor, Sappington said he made the “biggest theft bust in city history.” The city’s former deputy auditor Stephanie Wilson had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from the city; she was later sentenced to prison.
He said he remains proud of that investigation. He also cited improvements in the city’s financial outlook under his tenure, as well as his work to turn around a work environment “that was really toxic for the employees.”
Experience working in Nelsonville’s frequently divisive environment has prepared him to work with officials throughout the county and across partisan lines, he said. Current auditor Jill Davidson is the only Republican in county government; the county auditor and treasurer both work on the county finances.
Asked why Democratic Party voters should choose him in the primary, Sappington said he is the best choice “between the trust, the accountability factor, and just frankly, the experience to get the job done.”
Clodfelter said the main things that distinguish her from Sappington are her familiarity with the treasurer’s office, after helping out at the office on multiple occasions; her connections to different Appalachian Ohio communities; and her experience in various administrative jobs that make her a “seasoned professional.”
She added, “If I get elected and people like the job I’m doing, I would hope to provide really stable and consistent leadership in the treasurer’s office,” serving multiple terms.
Wasserman, the current county treasurer, said his “hearty endorsement goes to Beth Clodfelter.” He also cited her professional experience, previous work with the treasurer’s office, and her “broad perspective on the problems of the region that she gained in her work for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown.”
“No disrespect to Taylor,” Wasserman said. “He’s a very ambitious young man. … I just think Beth is clearly a better fit for this position.”
Sappington unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) to represent Ohio House District 94 in 2018, and challenged Republican Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber in 2022.
The League of Women Voters of Athens County will host a candidate forum for the Athens County Treasurer Democratic Primary on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St. The forum will also be live streamed by the Athens City Government channel.
Both Clodfelter and Sappington will participate, and the event is open to the public. The league will take questions at the event, and in advance by email. Emailed questions must be sent 48 hours prior to the event to AthensCountyAsks@gmail.com.
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