MARION COUNTY, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW) – Kevin Davidson, the newly elected Commissioner of Marion County, may not officially start his term until January 2, 2025, but he is already actively reaching out to the public. With a history of public service as a Marion County Deputy Sheriff for 35 years and a downtown business owner for 40 years, Davidson is no stranger to serving his community.
“As a young child I dreamed of being in law enforcement and more recent years I dreamed of serving the public as a County Commissioner,” says Davidson. “I now dream of Marion County’s future.”
Davidson’s dream for Marion County’s future is encapsulated in what he calls “Vision 2040”. His vision for Marion, both city and county, is that by the year 2040, today’s seven-year-olds will be 23 and old enough to be out of college. He envisions a community that, over the next 16 years, builds the foundations and infrastructure to encourage businesses to locate here and grow the community.
“Our gift to the future begins now”, states Davidson. “My vision is that living in Marion is a young adult’s first choice.”
In line with this vision, Davidson has coined the phrase “We Are Marion” to complement the “Love Your City” slogan being used by the newly elected city administration. Davidson wants to communicate that Marion includes both the city and county.
“We need to see ourselves as all together whether we live in the city, one of the 7 villages, or in one of the 15 townships,” says Davidson. His goal is to bring the entire county together to work as a team and break down any barriers or obstacles that might interfere with that.
“The decisions and actions we take now have a direct impact on our future. We have to rise above any differences, politics, or personal agendas to make Marion the best place to live and work,” says Davidson. “We are Marion”.