Scioto County voters chose stability Tuesday night—giving both interim commissioners the chance to keep the seats they were appointed to during one of the most controversial periods in recent county history.
Steven Will Mault won the Republican primary for the commission seat currently tied to embattled Commissioner Bryan Davis, while Merit Smith defeated challenger Adrian Harrison in his own Republican primary race.
The victories come after months of political turmoil involving corruption indictments, battles over economic development, and heated public debate surrounding the proposed Google data center in Franklin Furnace.
Mault Wins Race for Davis Seat
Mault defeated Yvonne Hale and Nate Hoover in the Republican primary.
He will now face Democratic candidate Abby Spears in the November general election.
Mault was appointed to fill the seat vacated when Commissioner Bryan Davis went on paid leave following his indictment on corruption charges tied to the Southern Ohio Port Authority and county economic development dealings.
Technically, Davis could still return to office if acquitted or if the charges are dismissed.
But with Davis’ criminal trial currently scheduled for October—just weeks before the November election—that now appears increasingly unlikely.
Mault has spent much of his short time in office trying to help steady county government as commissioners navigated both the corruption fallout and the massive attention surrounding the proposed Google project.
Smith Likely Secures Full Term
Meanwhile, Merit Smith defeated Adrian Harrison in the Republican primary and now appears headed toward a full term since no Democratic challenger has filed for the November election.
Smith was appointed after the tragic death of longtime Commissioner Cathy Coleman following injuries suffered in a car crash.
Since taking office, Smith has found himself in the middle of some of the county’s biggest debates in years—including the controversial Google data center proposal.
Data Center Debate Became a Major Campaign Issue
The races unfolded against the backdrop of packed commissioners meetings and fierce debate over the proposed Google development in Franklin Furnace.
Supporters argued the project could bring:
- Hundreds of jobs
- Long-term construction work
- Millions in future tax revenue
- A rare economic opportunity for Southern Ohio
Critics raised concerns about:
- Water usage
- Power demand
- Environmental impact
- Transparency and NDAs signed during negotiations
Both Smith and Mault ultimately supported the tax abatement tied to the project, arguing it gave the county leverage and a seat at the table with Google.
A Vote for Stability?
Taken together, Tuesday’s results suggest Republican primary voters largely backed the county’s current direction—even amid controversy.
That doesn’t mean the political drama is over.
The Davis criminal case is still pending. Lawsuits connected to the data center remain active. And the future of county economic development is still evolving after the collapse of the old system tied to the Robert Horton scandal.
But for now, voters signaled they’re willing to stick with the leadership currently steering the county through it.
