In a country enthralled with the duel between Republicans and Democrats, a long-time community activist in Belmont County has decided to add to the red-versus-blue battle.
So, now along with the blue and red, there’s green and orange and black and purple thanks to Jack Regis, a council member in Martins Ferry for more than four decades. Since filing to run as a Democrat for a seat on the Belmont County Commission, has refused to wage the usual political war. Instead, the 72-year-old has purchased campaign t-shirts in the colors of local high schools.
“If you’re not tired of all of this negative political stuff, you’re a part of it,” Regis said with a snicker. “And if you’re part of it, vote for the other guy because I think it’s all ridiculous. That stuff is not about the people of this community and I’m about the people. That’s what this race should be about.”
Regis is well known in Belmont County because of his allegiance to Martins Ferry but also because he’s a long-time OVAC wrestling referee and a 17-year employee as the county’s Facilities Manager. Unlike many others in the area running for an elected position, Regis began campaigning the day he filed his paperwork in February.
“And a lot of people have contacted me because they’ve wanted to talk to me about the issues they have on their minds, and I have enjoyed those conversations very much. I’ve also traveled to a few areas of the county and I have met a lot of people,” Regis explained. “I’ve been getting those kind of responses lately and it’s been a lot of fun. All along I’ve told people that I’d be a commissioner who will be out there speaking with the residents, and that’s exactly how I’ve gone about my campaign.
“The big question I get most often is why I want to be a commissioner,” he said. “All I tell them is that I want the people to feel as if they can work with the Commission when they believe they need to. That doesn’t seem to be the sentiment right now and that needs to change.”
Countdown to November
Regis is a walking campaign slogan.
“I want our young people to stay here at home.”
“I don’t care about party. I’ll work with anyone and everyone.”
“I’ll be the commissioner who comes to see you when you need me to come to see you.”
The thing about Regis, though, is that he seems to mean every word.
“I tell people that I want to restore some visibility to the Commission,” he insisted. “I’m also honest with the residents. I tell them I can’t promise them anything because it takes at least two commissioners to vote in favor of doing something. One commissioner is pretty powerless, and that’s what I tell people.
“I also tell the voters that the only thing on my agenda is to help the residents with their issues, and to do everything we can to bring more jobs to Belmont County,” Regis explained. “I am running because I believe I can do a better job than the individual running against me. It’s that simple.”
The odds, however, favor the Republican incumbent. According to the local Board of Elections, there are nearly 45,000 registered voters in Belmont County, including 8,700 Republicans and 5,000 Democrats. The rest? The statistics indicate there are just over 31,000 Independents in Belmont County.
“I can’t remember one time when I have ever cast a vote with a certain political party in mind,” Regis said. “Yes, I am Democrat, and I’m not going to run from it. I’ve been a Democrat my entire life, and now suddenly I represent everything that’s wrong with everything? I’m not buying that for a second.
“Have Democrats made mistakes? Absolutely. Have others from other parties done the same? You know it,” he said. “That’s why I intend to go into all of this with an open mind and it’s why I’ve never cared about what political party someone belongs to. Voters should only care about one thing … who can do the better job for them, and I am the person who can do the better job.”
Shaking Hands, Kissing Babies
If a voter in Belmont County wishes to meet and speak Regis, it will not be a difficult goal to achieve.
That’s because the candidate has been and will be readily available in the community between now and November 8.
“I was born here and I’ve lived in Belmont County my entire life. I’ve raised by family here, too,” Regis said. “Because I’ve been involved with local government for so many years, I’ve seen the good commissioners and the absent commissioners. That’s how I know how I would be in the position.
“I’ve worked with commissioners through the years and I can tell you the names of those who cared and the names of the people who I felt were just collecting a paycheck,” he said. “
The key, Regis believes, is interaction.
“People like to feel important, and they like to know they are being heard when they have an issue,” the Democrat said. “So, I want to be the person who goes to meet them, listens to the problem, and goes to the county for their answers. Once I get that answer, then I will go back to the individual and tell them what I found out, and if their issue can’t be fixed, I want to be the person who explains it to them. Too often, decisions are never explained.
“That’s why, if I win this race for commissioner, I will be attending meetings throughout the county so the Commission has a representative presence to answer questions, or to hear complaints,” Regis added. “If, for some reason, a a problem can be resolved simply because a commissioner made a phone call, well then I want to be that commissioner.”
