He grew up in Belmont County. He was graduated from Union Local High, went off to college and grad school, and stayed away for several years until he brought his family home.
Ever since, Belmont County Commissioner J.P. Dutton has served his friends, his neighbors, and his own family, and now this Primary Tuesday the Republican’s name is on the ballot once again.
But why?
First reason? Progress thanks to projects.
“I’m just really excited about what we have in motion right now, and about what we’ve accomplished since I joined the Commission in 2017,” explained Belmont County Commissioner J.P. Dutton. “We tackled the most expensive project in Belmont County history with the $30 million water plant, and we’ve completed the most expensive building project in our history with the development of the county’s justice center.
“The best part about the justice center is that, along with the court systems, we also have our Board of Elections and our Title Office there, and that project will be paid off next year so it’s not left to boards or residents of the future,” he continued. “And very soon we will make final decisions about the use of our ($13 million in American Rescue Plan) funds, and that will be a very important process for the people of the county.
Second reason? The county is at a crossroads.
“In many ways, we’ve laid a lot of groundwork for a lot more projects, and some work is ongoing like the broadband expansion that’s been ongoing for a couple of years,” said Dutton, who is now seeking a third term as a member of the Belmont County Commission. “So, we’re at a transition point with a lot of things that are in motion, and I very much want to see those projects through to completion. As long as it all goes as planned, then a lot of groundwork will be in place for what we’ve been working on since the very beginning, and that’s economic development.
“We have so much potential in Belmont County, and it’s time to take advantage of our assets,” the commissioner insisted. “One thing I can say about the Commission over the past six or seven years is that we’ve made decisions while looking 10 or 12 years down the road and not 10 or 12 months in the future as this board has done in the past, and that, in the long run, will benefit everyone living in Belmont County for a lot of years to come.”
Is there a third reason? Of course, there is.
“It’s about direction,” Dutton insisted. “It’s about when our children are making decisions about where they are going to live during their adult years. I do believe that is something we’ve had to consider as we do our work because our population has declined for a lot of years because of the lack of professional opportunities for our young people. That’s why, right now, economic development is vital to the county’s future.
“We are in the position to weather storms now and that wasn’t the case when I came aboard in 2017, and trust me, the unbelievable inflationary costs and high interest rates right now are making it tougher on us to achieve our goals in the same timeframes,” he said. “But we’re able to tackle those challenges right now because of proper planning.”
Dutton, who is raising two sons and a daughter with his wife Stacey, returned to Belmont County after serving the residents of the 18th Congressional District on Capitol Hill for eight years as a member of former congressman Bob Ney’s staff. During his professional career, he’s worked extensively with the coal and natural gas industries, and currently he joins fellow commissioners Josh Meyer and Jerry Echemann.
“We do a lot to improve the economic future of Belmont County, but there’s so much we do as a Commission that has to do with our residents, too, and an example is the ongoing conversation concerning our animal shelter,” Dutton said. “I know that’s a concern with a lot of people right now, and it’s concerning to me, too. That’s why it’s something I plan to continue to address as we move forward, and that has to begin with the facility itself. The facility is a big challenge.
“I see it as a two-stage process and the first stage is the facility, and it’s something we’ve started to look at over the past couple of years as we’ve reviewed all county properties. There are questions that need answered and decisions that need made, and I look forward to doing what’s best for the animals and the people involved,” he explained. “Do we repair the structure, or do we replace it? It’s a question that needs an answer and that’s what we’re working on right now.”
There would be more attention to ignored facilities, continued infrastructure expansion, a plethora of ARPA-related investment, and a concentration on quality of life if Belmont County voters return Dutton for another term as a county commissioner.
“When you’re in this position, you know who you work for and you never forget it,” he said. “I’ve always listened to our residents very closely because that’s the most important part of the job. And that’s something that will never change.”
