Jordan Brewer dominated the five-man Clinton County Commissioner caucus on Saturday like he used to rule the basketball court when he was at Clinton Prairie High School.
Brewer garnered 21 of the possible 32 votes to easily win the nomination for District III in the field that consisted of former Clinton County Commissioner Skip Evans, who finished second, Mike Thompson, Jamie Blacker and Brian Wimborough.
“We’re at a point where we have a lot of opportunities and a lot of things going on and we have to have people who will listen, but keep an open mind and move things forward in the county,” said Brewer. “I felt like my credentials were the best of the candidates out there.”
Clinton County Republican Party Chairman Jim Moyer said he pleased with the turnout, but was surprised how quick the caucus went.
“We had 32 precincts out of 39 possible at a time when we had graduations and vacations. It was amazing,” said Moyer. “Jordan was obviously a popular candidate. I never expected anyone to get a first ballot victory with this many people running. He needed 17 votes and he got 21. I was prepared to go all the way to five ballots.”
Moyer gives his thoughts on the newest Commissioner.
“Number one is my mind is he brings youth,” said Moyer. “Number two, he brings agricultural experience which we have lacked for awhile, and number three, I think just being a local person who left the community and then came back here to the community speaks highly of the young man.”
Brewer was asked why he decided to run.
“One of the challenges is what happens with all the COVID stuff financially,” he said. “You see it, maybe not here in Clinton County, but on the livestock packing houses and employees being sick and shut down is putting a logjam in the logistics side of food production getting it to the people and the grocery stores. So, from that standpoint, it’s very similar. There’s just not a lot of growth going on in ag at the moment.
“Agriculture needs representation at the government level in this type of position,” he continued. “I just felt the experiences I’ve had on the boards that I’ve served on and my educational experience would put me in a good position to help make decisions for the county going forward.”
Brewer will be sworn in Monday afternoon and officially takes office on July 31. He is currently a member of the Area Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and the Redevelopment Authority. He anticipates he will have to give up all of those when he officially becomes commissioner.
Brewer joins Josh Uitts and Steve Woods as County Commissioners until the first of the year when Mark Timmons takes over for Woods.