Athens County Auditor
What does the Athens County Auditor do?
According to the County Auditor’s Association of Ohio, a county auditor is the chief financial officer of the county, they are directly responsible for local tax dollars and the distribution of tax dollars. They are responsible for making sure financial reports are kept, estimating local taxes, establishing real property value, keeping the books on county finances and more. In Athens County, the auditor sits on several boards, commissions and councils. In Ohio, county auditors serve four-year terms.
Longtime incumbent County Auditor Jill Thompson and County Treasurer Ric Wasserman are running for the seat.
RIC WASSERMAN (D)
Ric Wasserman has served as the Athens County Treasurer since 2018. He previously ran for the county auditor position in 2002, and lost to incumbent Jill Thompson. Wasserman has part or full ownership in over a half-dozen businesses including Pigskin Bar and Grille. He is an alum of Ohio University and has been a resident of the Athens area for almost 30 years. Wasserman’s priorities as county auditor include continuing his work in ending tax delinquency, utilizing the Athens County Land Bank to acquire and repurpose abandoned property, and promoting expedited foreclosure.
JILL THOMPSON (R)
Jill Thompson has been the Athens County auditor since 2000. She previously served as deputy auditor in 1992, president of the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association, president of the County Auditors’ Association of Ohio, and chairperson of the Correction Commission of Southeastern Ohio. Thompson is a lifelong resident of Athens and an alum of Ohio University. Her campaign stresses the importance of a transparent, efficient government that can solve issues within the community. She believes in working across party lines to achieve these goals. As auditor, she published Athens County’s first Public Annual Financial Report and helped create a financial model for the regional jail. Another big part of Thompson’s campaign is empowering women to hold office.