Ohio › Athens County › Athens County Commissioner
Biography
Autumn Brown has worked more than 28 years with the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities and currently directs its Integrate Athens program, per her campaign site. She also owns a small business focused on strategic planning and community development, per the same site.
Top Priorities
- Fair wages, good benefits and safe working conditions, drawing on her labor-negotiation experience
- Economic development through infrastructure improvements and community partnerships
- Fiscal responsibility and transparent budgeting
Per the campaign site.
Biography
Sarah Danielle Smith is a lifelong Athens County resident who runs a dairy farm and a beef cattle farm, per The Post. She is also a small business owner and human resources professional, per the Athens County Independent.
Top Priorities
- Represent rural and underserved parts of the county, per per The Post
- Develop infrastructure that supports economic development projects, per per the Athens County Independent candidate questions
- Make decisions on data centers and other projects on facts and proposals, per per the Athens County Independent candidate questions
iAbout this race
Democrat Autumn Brown (4,235 votes) and Republican Sarah Danielle Smith (1,918 votes) each won an unopposed May 5, 2026 primary (official results) and meet in November for the seat now held by Commissioner Lenny Eliason (term ends December 31, 2026), who is not seeking another term, per the Athens County Independent. Ohio counties elect one commissioner in gubernatorial years; the term begins January 1, 2027.
iWhat this office does
County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.
Also on your ballot
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term begins February 9, 2027), Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile Division (term begins February 9, 2027), Ohio House District 94
All 6
Questions about this race
Who is running for Athens County Commissioner in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Athens County Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Autumn Brown and Sarah Danielle Smith. Candidate information follows official Athens County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Athens County Commissioner election in Ohio?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Ohio are on the Ohio election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Athens County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
iSources
The rest of your Athens County ballot
6 tracked races in Athens County, Ohio. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.
See all 6 Athens County races
