PICKAWAY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONTACT INFORMATION
139 West Franklin Street
Circleville, OH 43113
P: (740) 474-6093
F: (740) 474-8988
County Commissioners are the general administrative body of Pickaway County government. They are the
county government taxing, budgeting, appropriating and purchasing authority. They also hold title to county
property. Individual commissioners have no power to act independently. All formal and official actions must
be taken by the Board of County Commissioners acting as a body by majority or unanimous vote.
Commissioners have other responsibilities including hearing and ruling on annexations, approving drainage
improvements through the petition ditch process, establishing water and sewer districts, making improvements
and providing for solid waste disposal. Commissioners also appoint department heads of offices for which they
have responsibility and appoint members to a variety of boards and commissions.
The non-statutory duties and responsibilities of the commissioners are what make them different from other
county elected officials. Our commissioners are active in promoting economic development initiatives, public
health issues and infrastructure development. The county commissioners take a broad view of actions necessary
to make Pickaway County a better place to live and work.
BRIAN S. STEWART
Brian S. Stewart began his first term as Pickaway County Commissioner in January 2013. He is a lifelong resident of southern Ohio, a local attorney, and a combat veteran of the Iraq War.
Commissioner Stewart enlisted for active duty in the Army in 2003, and volunteered to serve in the infantry. After graduating from Basic Training and Airborne School, he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, was soon deployed to the Sadr City area of Baghdad in Iraq. During a year long deployment in 2005, he conducted over 150 combat patrols in the city. For his actions, Commissioner Stewart earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge (CIB), and was twice awarded the Army Commendation Medal before he was honorably discharged in 2006.
Commissioner Stewart then earned his bachelor’s degree and law degree, both from the Ohio State University. He is a partner at Farthing & Stewart LLP, a local law practice in Circleville. In 2009, he successfully ran for a seat on Ashville Council, where he served three years on the Finance and Public Safety Committees and as President Pro Tempore of Council in 2012.
Commissioner Stewart is an active member of his community. He is the immediate past Vice President and Spokesman for the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial, and is a member of the Pickaway County Farm Bureau, the Association of Ohio Commodores, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Camp Charlotte Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Commissioner Stewart lives in Ashville and attends Ashville Village Chapel with his wife, Letanya, and their two daughters, Salem and Sidney.
JAY H. WIPPEL
Commissioner Wippel grew up in Walnut Township, Pickaway County and graduated from Teays Valley High School and is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in Economics. He farms about 700 acres in Northern Pickaway County. Commissioner Wippel has been active in the community as a member of Westfall School Board, a member of the Berger Health Systems Board of Directors, and has served as an office director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
HAROLD HENSON
Harold “Champ” Henson is a lifelong resident of Pickaway County, a former Walnut Township Trustee, and a local farmer. After graduating from Teays Valley High School, Commissioner Henson attended the Ohio State University on a football scholarship. He played for the Buckeyes under Coach Woody Hayes and led the nation in scoring during his sophomore season in 1972. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 4th Round of the NFL Draft, and also played for the Cincinnati Bengals. Henson owns and operates Henson Family Farm Market which is widely known for its sweetcorn, as well as other fruits and vegetables. Henson resides in Walnut Township with his wife Karen, and has raised three children, Clayton, Colton, and Cassidy.
