Four seeking surveyor post in Hancock County

By GIOVANNI P. ROSSI, Staff writer
Four county residents will appear on the ballot for Hancock County surveyor in Tuesday’s election.

Warren Wright, Mark Wiersbicki, Ray Tompos will compete against incumbent J. Perry Manypenny in the primary election for Hancock County surveyor. The winner of this category will go on to face Independent candidate Brian Sweeney in the general election on Nov. 4.

While the four individuals have the same goal, each has a different background and plan to implement after the election if chosen.

Wright stated he has had no prior political experience, but served on the Weirton Beautification Committee. A 10-year Iraq veteran, Wright served in the 2nd Combat Engineering Battalion at Camp Virginia in North Carolina.

“I look forward to working with the county commission to help with projects throughout the county,” he said. “I believe I can be a part of the team to facilitate development in Hancock County.”

Tompos held the position of Hancock County surveyor two terms ago. During his term, he said he had a good reputation as a public resource and did his best to settle disputes. In addition to knowing the resources available to the county, he noted he has the people skills to effectively help the public.

“I’m courteous and helpful and am really looking for a way to do the most and help the people of this community,” he said.

Like Wright, Wiersbicki reported he also has no previous political experience. An assistant coach for Oak Glen High School’s wrestling team, he said he has worked in surveying since 1994. He noted he recently worked with a company that developed The Highlands and is currently performing work at a power plant in Stratton, Ohio.

According to Wiersbicki, the person elected for Hancock County surveyor should be a surveyor, a merit he is in the process of obtaining. If elected, he said he will work to solve the deed issue he believes to be present in the county.

“When properties are sold, I believe they need to be re-surveyed,” he said. “Right now, they are being re-recorded every time they are sold.”

Manypenny reported re-surveying properties with each sale would prove to be a large and unnecessary expense to the county. In his experience as both county surveyor and a lawyer, he noted the only reasons to survey a piece of property again is if it is being split into two plots or if there is a property line dispute.

He also said that no licensed surveyor has held the position of county surveyor in approximately 30 years.

“I believe being it serves as a conflict of interest should a surveyor be put in a position to tailor a contract towards his or her own company,” he said. “The role of the county surveyor is a reference one and nothing more.”

Manypenny stated that, while a county surveyor may take on a private contract, its main purpose is to refer outside individuals to contracting services available to the county. He also said there is no compensation for the position.

The primary election for Hancock County is Tuesday.



(Rossi can be contacted at grossi@weirtondailytimes.com)