Chuck Probst Announces Re-Election Plans for County Commissioner
Former four-term Belmont County Commissioner Chuck Probst announced his plans for re-election for the May 5 primary election on the Republican ballot.
“My decision to run for office is to bring proven leadership, experience, dedication and most importantly stability to the county commission,” he said. “Being a former four-term Belmont County Commissioner has given me invaluable experience and distinguishes me as the only commission candidate that will be a knowledgeable asset and resource to the county commission and the residents of Belmont County.”
Probst, a lifelong Belmont County resident, is president of the Martins Ferry City School District Board of Education and also serves as a member on the Belmont/Harrison Career Center Board. He is a former Colerain Township Trustee, was employed at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, EORWA and is the past volleyball coach at Martins Ferry High School and St. Johns Central in Bellaire.
“Job creation and retention, economic development, improvements to our county highway system, water and sewer expansion and financial growth is essential for our county to thrive,” he said. “Plus, it is critical to have a foundational investment in our school districts to provide a quality education for our children.”
“We also must develop employment opportunities, as I’ve successfully done, creating livable wage jobs. We have good, skilled, hard working men and women who have lost their jobs at no fault of their own in our county, and I will do whatever is necessary to take care of our families and businesses. I will continue working to attract new business and industry to Belmont County and make sure any future construction projects are done with local labor and local contractors.”
He added, “In times of uncertainty, I recognize there are many problems facing our county today. Police, Fire and EMS are having staffing and funding issues. Our school districts are struggling with funding needs. Our residents are facing daily challenges to make ends meet. We have a hospital sitting idle in Martins Ferry that desperately needs to open. We have companies and businesses that are closing or leaving. We have families hauling water for their everyday needs and we need to get in step with our cities, villages, townships and school districts to help them in any way we can and the list goes on. I’m the only commissioner candidate that has extensive knowledge and experience on how to tackle these tough issues.”
Probst said, if elected, these are just a few of the important matters he will begin working on his first day in office.
“As I served as your commissioner, I helped guide Belmont County through one of the worst recessions in county history, went through two major disasters that created millions upon millions of dollars in damage to property and infrastructure and was able to bring the county successfully back to prosperity. We all lived through those times and know the hardships it created.”
“It is vital that Belmont County have a commissioner who will be a vocal advocate for our taxpayers in Columbus and Washington D.C., which I have done on numerous occasions. I would like to remind the people that I worked fifteen years for you as your county commissioner and know the responsibilities and time it takes to be an effective commissioner. I also have a proven record of helping people, being accessible and watching over our seniors and veterans making sure that their care and their needs are being met.”
Probst said some of his accomplishments while in office included crafting and creating the Veterans Discount Card Program and working to establish the Veterans Transportation Program and the Veterans Service Building in Bellaire.
He also established the Prescription Drug Discount Card Program for the residents, helped acquire 1.2 million dollars for the Barnesville Hospital Expansion Project and worked closely and had meetings with the congressional leaders in Washington D.C. to facilitate the transfer of the armory property in Bellaire to the Belmont County Port Authority, which is now Supply Chain Solutions.
He worked and received grant funding along with local dollars for the Neffs sewage project, assisted in funding for renovations at Barnesville Airport, assisted in acquiring the Barnesville Industrial Park and was instrumental in receiving grants and funding to enhance the Belmont County 911 Center for communication upgrades for all fire, EMS and law enforcement personnel.
He worked and received grants for a new state of the art Emergency Operations Center, assisted various fire departments, emergency squads, cities, villages and townships in obtaining grant funding and also provided through state, federal and local dollars more than 21 million for water and sewage expansion to western Belmont County including State Route 40, Morristown, State Route 149 to Belmont and exit 208 interchange, which is now a major hub for economic development.
While in office, Probst served on the The Community Improvement Corporation/ Department of Development, Ohio Public Works Integrating Committee, Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association Executive Board, was a member of the National Association of Counties, Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Belmont County 911 Board and is a life member of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio.
He also currently serves as an honorary member of the Martins Ferry Fire Department Liberty Engine Company where he was a lieutenant, the Martins Ferry Emergency Squad where he served as captain and is also a former member of the Colerain Fire Department and Emergency Squad.
Probst ended with, “Being a County Commissioner is a very demanding job. The clock doesn’t stop at 5 p.m. Most days are 12 to 14 hours if you want to properly represent the people. Every vote and every decision a Commissioner makes directly or indirectly affects someone’s life. I take that role seriously.”
“As in the past, together we can move Belmont County forward. Please consider having the only experienced county commissioner candidate working for you. I am humbly asking for your vote on May 5.”
Probst resides in Colerain with his wife Karen of 45 years. They have two grown daughters and five grandchildren.
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