Begg, Noonan win GOP nomination for Allen commissioner

LIMA — Jay Begg and Cory Noonan won their respective Republican primaries for Allen County commissioner Tuesday, and move on to general election contests this fall for the two seats.Begg, 58, the Allen County Fairgrounds manager, bested American Township Trustee Lynn Mohler, 67 percent to 33 percent, for the Republican nomination for one of the two commissioner open commissioner seats. Begg narrowly lost a primary two years ago when he challenged incumbent Commissioner Greg Sneary. Begg would have won a commissioner seat this year with a primary win, but on Monday (the last day to do so), Brian Cheney filed as a nonpartisan candidate to challenge Begg in the fall.“I had heard Mr. Cheney was planning to file; it wasn't a complete surprise,” Begg said. “I'm going to enjoy this for a bit, focus on having a great Allen County Fair, and after Labor Day get started on another campaign.”The primary marked the first elections that Begg and Noonan have won. Begg joked that it feels “a lot better than losing one.”“I do want to commend Mr. Mohler on a forthright campaign and I'm very thankful for the support I received from voters and from supporters of the campaign.”Noonan, 35, convincingly won a three-way race for the nomination, winning 56 percent of the vote against American Township Trustee Paul Basinger's 33 percent and Elida School Board member Dennis Fricke's 11 percent. Voters ultimately paid little heed to Basinger's two chief criticisms of Noonan: that he was running for commissioner as a stepping stone and that he was running on the coattails of other Republicans.Noonan, who currently serves as U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan's Lima District director, will face Democrat Connie Miller and Libertarian Don Kissick in the fall.“I just want to thank the voters of Allen County. I have two quality opponents in the general election, and I'm looking forward to getting back out there and knocking on more doors and speaking to voters about my vision for the county,” Noonan said. “I spent six months knocking on doors and standing in people's living rooms, and letting them ask the questions, find out what I was about. My message is that I'm committed to this seat and seeing Allen County reach her full potential.”After commissioners Sam Bassitt and Dan Reiff, both Republicans, announced they would not seek new terms, interest in the two seats has been high. The candidates have talked about improving communication in the courthouse and better budgeting and planning.Shawnee Township voter Lu Cordes said he voted in the races, and will support the Republicans earning the nomination, but even on Tuesday didn't have a clear picture of the candidates.“I read a little bit, saw some signs,” Cordes said. “They all sounded alike to me.”You can comment on this story at www.limaohio.com.