Profit files county commissioner petition

VW independent/submitted information

Vicki J. Profit of York Township has filed her petition to run in the May primary election as a Republican candidate for Van Wert County commissioner.

Born and raised in Van Wert County, Profit is the daughter of Maurice and Louise Perry of Van Wert. She is married to Terry Profit and the couple has two sons, Zach (Danielle) and Brock (Briana) Profit, and three grandchildren, with a fourth on the way.

Profit attended Vantage Career Center and is a 1981 graduate of Lincolnview High School. She has made a career of helping young adults through teaching life skills and career placement. Several years after graduating from Vantage, she went to work in the school’s technology department. Profit went on to work for the State of Ohio, based at Van Wert High School, helping recent graduates with employment opportunities. Profit served four years on the Lincolnview Local Board of Education during the construction of the new high school and is currently involved in her family’s grain operation, Profit and Son’s Farms Inc. in York Township. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert.

“This is where I grew up, it’s where my husband and I have raised our family, and it’s where my grandchildren will grow up,” Profit said. “Van Wert County is home and I am passionate about seeing our county succeed.”

Over the past several years, if Van Wert County had an official buzzword, “economic development” would be it. Many residents are working hard and taking every opportunity available to make the community attractive to new business, as well as to local young people.

Unfortunately, the most critical tool in Van Wert County’s economic development toolbox is still missing. If elected, Profit intends to make the runway extension phase of the airport project a priority. Businesses rely heavily on large corporate aircraft in today’s fast paced business world.

“By extending the airport runway, we are opening Van Wert County up to major population centers all around the world,” Profit said. “Every effort needs to be made by the county in seeing this project through as quickly as possible. We need it now and for the future.

“If there is a way to make this project reach completion sooner, we need to do our best to find it,” Profit added.

She is also concerned that county leadership has left both city and rural county residents in the dark about a potential $1 billion wind farm development in southern Van Wert County.

“Wind power could provide Van Wert County an edge, making us unique among other rural communities and offering youth a vision of the future that embraces technology and encourages our agricultural way of life,” Profit noted.

She recognizes, however, that there is opposition to this type of development in the community and will certainly listen to their concerns.

“Van Wert is an outstanding place to live and, if elected, I will lead by putting the county first to ensure our community continues to be a great place for our children and their children,” Profit said.