Licking County, Ohio

Licking County Commissioner

2 candidates are tracked for Licking County Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Kathy McLeish and Mark A. Van Buren. Candidate information follows official Licking County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Open seat: incumbent Rick Black is retiring after 12 years in office, per local news coverage. Mark A. Van Buren (R), who briefly held the seat in 2008 filling a vacancy, faces Mary "Kathy" McLeish (D), per the Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Brian Belcher filed as a write-in candidate and does not print as a name on the printed ballot.

What 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.

Ohio › Licking County › Licking County Commissioner

Kathy McLeish

Democratic

Biography

McLeish is a Newark resident with 20 years of experience in public education, including work as an early childhood education specialist, an administrator at River View Local School District, regional director for the Child Care Resource Network covering 11 counties, and director of the Licking County Children and Families First Council, per local news coverage. No campaign website was found as of September 10, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Kathy McLeish.

Mark A. Van Buren

Republican

Top priorities

Responsible growth and smart infrastructure investment
Fiscal responsibility and support for public safety
Protecting farmland and rural character

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Van Buren is a lifelong farmer and small business owner from Hebron who has served as a Harrison Township trustee and briefly held the county commissioner seat in 2008, filling a vacancy, per local news coverage.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotLicking County Auditor

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Licking County Commissioner in 2026?

When is the Licking 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 Licking 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.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Licking County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Ohio election office, or see the full Licking County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Licking County ballot

8 tracked races in Licking County, Ohio. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations See all 8 Licking County races

Candidate profiles

Kathy McLeish, full profile Mark A. Van Buren, full profile Official Ohio election office