Ohio › Tuscarawas County › Tuscarawas County Commissioner
2 candidates are tracked for Tuscarawas County Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Kristin Zemis and Kent Watson. Candidate information follows official Tuscarawas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
One of three Tuscarawas County commission seats is up in the November 3, 2026 general election. Incumbent Republican Kristin Zemis, in office since January 2023, faces Democrat Kent Watson; both were unopposed in their May 5, 2026 primaries, per WebSearch summaries of Board of Elections candidate-filing data (term for the winner commences 01/01/2027).
Kristin Zemis is a lawyer who holds a degree from Emory University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law, and has practiced law for over 30 years, including as a partner at Black McCuskey before starting her own practice, per her Tuscarawas County Republican Party candidate page. She has also worked as a mediator and Guardian Ad Litem, and has served as Tuscarawas County Commissioner since January 2023, per the same source. She founded the Tuscarawas Free Clinic and has served on the United Way Committee and supported early-childhood literacy programs including Blessings in a Backpack, per her candidate page.
2026 priorities (per the Tuscarawas County Republican Party candidate page)
- Lists fiscal responsibility and management of taxpayer dollars as a priority for a new term
- Prioritizes economic development and job creation, infrastructure improvements, and pursuing grant opportunities for the county
Source: candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-09-09.
Campaign site →
Kent Watson, of Dover, retired from Marlite after a 20-year career in middle management, where he managed staff, ordered materials, and oversaw manufacturing, shipping and delivery, per WJER Radio. He has served on community boards including the Tuscarawas Philharmonic, Friends of the Homeless, the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce, and the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, per WJER Radio. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Kent Watson.
