The challenger for a seat on the Wood County Board of Commissioners said his age allows him to be more connected with the generation that is raising families.

The incumbent said experience at the job is more valuable.

Cory Kuhlman, Perrysburg, and Dr. Ted Bowlus, Pemberville, will face each other in Tuesday’s primary election to see who will more forward as the Republican candidate for Wood County commissioner.

Bowlus has served as a commissioner since 2017.

“I’m dedicated,” he said about the post. “I didn’t obtain it on a whim as a steppingstone.”

He said he liked serving people and that that is why he went to medical school and on medical missions to developing nations.

Prior to becoming commissioner, Dr. Bowlus served on the Eastwood Schools Board of Education and is a past president of the Wood County Board of Health. He is also a past president and former National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) board member.

“This is a natural position for me to be in,” he said.

Bowlus said he is well-qualified to continue as commissioner, and intends to finish the goals the board set including the county jail renovation and expansion and building a new engineer’s office.

“With our stability in Wood County, we’re in a strong position to continue to strengthen our agencies and separate the wants from the needs,” he said.

The commissioners oversee the budgets for 11 agencies, he said.

“We appreciate and value each other’s opinions when it comes to analyzing how the budget will be balanced,” he said.

He said chronological age doesn’t correlate with mental age.

Bowlus, who is a part-time podiatric surgeon, is 74 while Kuhlman is 36.

“I won’t hold my opponent’s lack of experience and youth against him,” Bowlus said, paraphrasing a statement made by President Ronald Reagan in his debate with Walter Mondale.

Kuhlman is in his fifth year on Perrysburg City Council. He has been a managing partner with Stearns & Hammer Attorneys at Law for almost 10 years.

He said he is looking forward to expanding his service to Wood County rather than just Perrysburg.

There’s been a local, state and national outcry for younger people to get involved, he said.

All three current commissioners are of the same generation, and he said he can provide insight to the generation that is raising families.

Kuhlman has three children and is a 2005 Eastwood High School graduate.

He said the county’s budget is twice the size of Perrysburg’s.

“I already have experience in managing a budget but I also bring a fresh perspective to that budget to look for areas where we can be more effective and to make sure the tax dollars are spent responsibly,” he said.

Tax assessments are up, he said, and although the county doesn’t control that, everyone needs to be aware of where their tax dollars are going.

He also said he wants to address the infrastructure needs of the farming community.

Kuhlman said he would do all he can to maximize those tax dollars.

Experience in the commissioner’s office is critical, he said.

“I’d like to get in there before all that experience is gone,” Kuhlman said.

He will have to leave his seat on Perrysburg City Council if he wins the commissioner’s seat.