The long-time politician is going to run for a seat on the Belmont County Commission, and he will do so as a Democrat despite the fact that more than 70 percent of the residents voted in favor of former president Donald Trump.
Jack Regis, a veteran council member in Martins Ferry who once of the municipality’s mayor, recently retired as facilities manager for Belmont County, plans to file the necessary paperwork next week and possibly could challenge incumbent Commissioner Jerry Echemann if he is successful during the May primary.
Echemann was elected in 2018 following a 31-year career in the media industry. The four-year term, which ends at the end of this year, represents the first time Echemann was elected to any public office. He and his Commission colleagues J.P. Dutton and Josh Meyer are members of the Republican party.
“I’m not going to change parties like some people have in the past because I really don’t think it matters what party you belong to but instead what you can do for the people of the county,” Regis insisted on River Talk 100.1 FM. “I believe in walking across the aisle and working with everyone no matter what party anyone belonged to at the time. There was a time when there wasn’t such a division with the parties and with the American people like there is today, but that’s not how I work.
“I don’t care if you are a Democrat, a Republican, or an independent. If you can a good idea or a solution, that’s a good thing for everyone,” he continued. “If you come to me and I know I can help you, then that’s what I will do no matter what party you belong to at the time. I’m just me and that’s the way it’s always been.”
Motivation
While serving as the facilities manager for 17 years, Regis supervised several employees who maintained buildings on many different areas in Belmont County.
His tenure also allowed him to form opinions about the operation of the departments and the relationships the county commissioners had with him and other employees. For the most part, he did not approve and now he wishes to provoke much needed change.
“I did not appreciate how some of the employees were treated, and I never felt that the commissioners really supported the county’s employees,” Regis revealed. “Now, I do have the utmost respect for Commissioner J.P. Dutton because he would listen to me and the other employees.
“He was always open to hearing two sides of a story if there was an issue with an employee,” he said. “I was always able to go to him and be heard, but it wasn’t always like that during my years and I really think it should be.”
That is why Regis, who has officiated OVAC wrestling for more than two decades, entered the race.
“I started thinking about running for commissioner around the time I decided to retire from my job with Belmont County,” he explained. “I did appreciate the way the commissioners went to replace me after I had left. That left me pretty upset and that’s one of the big reasons why I decided to take a run at a commissioner’s seat.
“Plus, when we were working with Dr. (John) Johnson and Bernie Albertini to get (East Ohio Regional Hospital) open again, we didn’t here from the commissioner at all and I thought that was a bad thing,” he said. “I believe the commissioners should be out talking with the people of Belmont County and that’s why, if I make it to the ballot in November and I’m lucky enough to win, I will attend a lot of events and a lot of meetings so I can stay in touch with the residents.”
A Fan of All
One thing Regis recognizes is that Belmont County is a community of many colors.
School colors, that is, and that is why the commission candidate has developed a plan for his campaign signs.
“In Bellaire, my signs should be red and black, and in Shadyside, orange and black, and in Martins Ferry, of course, purple and white,” Regis said with a smile. “I’ll have to check with the people who make the signs to make sure it’s possible, but I think the people will appreciate that very much.
“Because I’ve been a wrestling referee for so long, I really don’t have favorites. I just root for all of the kids because I really like to see young people be successful. They are our future,” he continued. “Plus, I will get out to those communities as often as what’s possible this year. I want to hear from them because the job is to do what the taxpayers want you to do. That principle has guided me throughout my career.”
Public service has been a part of life for Regis for more than 40 years, but this will be the very first time he attempts to win a countywide seat. That fact, however, does not intimidate him.
“I have a lot of ideas about some things I would like to see change as far as how the county operates, and I have those ideas because I worked for the county as long as I did,” Regis insisted. “I experienced a lot, and I know how every department in the county operates, and I believe some changes do need to be made. I always kept quiet about my concerns, but now that I am retired, I can talk about them.”
