Ward issue chair seeks to challenge Franklin County commissioner

One of the architects of a proposed ward system for Columbus city council now says she wants to be a Franklin County Commissioner. Whitney Smith, co-chair of the Represent Columbus political action committee that brought the ward issue, wants the Franklin County Republican Party to appoint her to the ballot in place of Jesse Thomas, who dropped out of the race in June. If chosen, she will run against incumbent Commissioner John O’Grady, a Democrat.