Trustee challenger looks to control wayward vegetation
MARKLEVILLE — Adams Township Trustee Jill Fesler will face an opponent, James Aschemeier, on the Republican ballot during the primary election this spring.
Aschemeier, 66, Middletown, is challenging Fesler for the Republican nomination for one main reason, he said — he doesn’t care much for weeds growing out of control in places they shouldn’t be.
Aschemeier isn’t too thrilled with the work Fesler is doing as the current trustee, keeping a handle on out-of-control grass and weeds in the area, and he said he hopes winning the primary will put him in a position to do something about it, he said.
No one has filed to run for the seat on the Democratic ticket.
Other than keeping an eye on grass and weeds, Aschemeier didn’t really know what else would be expected of him if he ultimately becomes the trustee.
Still, Aschemeier wants the job and said he is certain he can handle the position better than the incumbent.
“She’s done absolutely nothing,” Aschemeier said. “No one can tell me one thing she has done.”
Fesler, 66, Pendleton, has a different take.
She ran unopposed in 2014, enjoys the job and feels she’s been a solid trustee for the area, considering she had to teach herself the duties of the office she captured more than three years ago.
“I think I’ve made a big difference for the better,” Fesler said. “I’ve had to teach myself everything that needed to be done here, but I’ve been able to do it.”
Part of the job includes sending monthly financial reports for the Markleville and surrounding fire territory, something she said she’s able to handle because she had many years of clerical, financial and accounting work for the state prior to becoming the trustee.
In addition to paying bills for the fire territory, the trustee is also responsible for dispersing assistance funds to residents in need, as well as keeping an eye on neglected areas that need mowing.
“Our assistance program works pretty well,” Fesler said. “I’ve even been able to get some of the money back from some of the assistance.”
Fesler said she feels she’s handling that part of the job well, along with the other responsibilities, including out-of-control weeds.
She works at least 18 hours per week out of her home and said she feels she’s well suited for the job.
Aschemeier, a retired truck driver, said he doesn’t have financial experience that would be applicable to the position, but he was adamant he can get the job done better than the incumbent.
Aschemeier had a bad encounter with Fesler a few years ago when he called to complain about overgrown grass and the situation didn’t sit well with him, he said.
“I don’t want to lean on people about things, but I want stuff to get done that’s supposed to be done,” Aschemeier said.
Fesler said she feels she’s done enough good work to earn a second term, but when it comes to politics it’s hard to predict how things will turn out.
“It will be interesting to see what happens,” Fesler said. “It’s a little unusual for somebody to run against an incumbent from what I understand in a little township, but we’ll see.”