COLUMBIANA — Fairfield Township trustee Bob Hum is seeking to keep his seat against four challengers for the November general election.

Carly Brock, Logan Cope, Robert Hum, David Vollnogle and Jarod Work all are seeking two of the three available seats.

Carly Brock

Brock, of Applesway Drive in Leetonia, owns Richardson Monuments. A graduate of East Palestine High School and Youngstown State University, she currently is a member of the Columbiana County Women’s Republican Club and president of the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce. She also is a member of Eastern Star Chapter 381 and the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge.

In the case of the Lisbon Chamber, Brock was able to not only double profits in her first year but eliminate $36,000 in debt.

“I’m not trying to come in and change what isn’t broken. I’m trying to make our township better with the help of the trustees and community.”

This is her initial run for public office.

In addition to her energy and passion for helping others, Brock believe she can offer unique insight into the efficient operation of the township cemeteries and help them unlock hidden potentials that currently are not in place.

Brock and husband Wayne, who have been married 13 years old, have a 5-year-old son Nolan.

Logan Cope

Cope, of Lower Elkton Road in Leetonia, believes his youth can bring a different generational perspective to the board if he is elected.

Cope has run unsuccessful for Fairfield Township trustee before, losing to John Garwood in 2024.

He is a graduate of Crestview High School and The Ohio State University, where he studied business marketing.

“I have been able to see business through both sides, the corporate/collegiate half and the small business half,” Cope, who owns Blue Collar Better Homes, explains. “It has given me great insight on not only financial management but also public interaction, decision making and scheduling logistics.”

Cope seeks to close the gap between elected officials and their constituents. “I want to bring a voice to the people of the community. There are concerns big and small that need to be .. addressed,” he added.

Cope and his wife of seven years Kristen have two children: Reed, 4, and Elouise, 1.

Bob Hum

Hum initially was serving with Fairfield Township in 2001 as their legal counsel when they acquired the former Crestview Middle School on Fairfield School Road.

Still 24 years later, he believes that the acquisition of that property by the township has had the most significant impact on township residents’ welfare.

Hum, a resident of South Elm St. in Columbiana, now a member of that trustee board, once occupied by Carl Garwood and Wilmer Swope, wishes to save another term to see some of those envisioned projects come to fruition.

“History has proven that this decision has had a profoundly positive impact on the township,” he explains.

With acquiring a loan or passing a levy, trustees have managed to accomplish converting the property into a usable township administration space using estate tax fund moneys received from both Columbiana and Mahoning counties and investing those into infrastructure and equipment replacement.

At the old school property, the main classroom building was demolished and replaced by a brand new large steel building, a liquid storage shed and a fuel farm. The smaller annex building was converted into a township administration building, as the township had outgrown its current Southern Avenue structure in 2010.

All of the upgrades, including the cold storage pole building and a dry hydrant lake for the township’s three contracted departments (Columbiana, New Waterford and Leetonia), were accomplished without the overtures for additional money like a levy or loan.

While Hum is proud of all that has been accomplished since he filled a place on the board, he is quick to give credit to the township top tier employees.

“I’m not a politician…(but) a businessman who gets things done,” Hum explained. “Carl Garwood has recruited me to serve. Since then, I have dedicated myself fully to the job.”

And Hum has his sights on work yet to accomplish, including replacement of some township culverts, some complex infrastructure projects and further application of what he learned during an Ohio Township Association Leadership Academy.

David Vollnogle

Vollnogle, state Route 46 in New Waterford, is a graduate of Columbiana High School and a licensed land surveyor in the state of Ohio.

He is a member of the Columbiana County Farm Bureau board of trustees and the Fairfield Township Architectural Review Board.

Vollnogle also is a past Crestview school board member and ran unsuccessfully for Columbiana County commission in 2004. He also has past appointments to the Leadership Columbiana County board; Ohio Farm Bureau Code Committee, U.S. Route 30 Corridor Committee, and Columbiana County ESC Business Advisory Council.

“My background is well suited for the position of Fairfield Township trustee,” Vollnogle explains, citing his experience working with various public agencies as an engineering and surveying consultant or with state and regulatory agencies to obtain permits for infrastructure projects.

He also previously served Fairfield Township as their part-time zoning inspector.

Vollnogle and his wife of 43 years Carol have three adult children Chad, Malory and Kara.

Jarod Work

Fairfield Township has been Work’s homer the majority of his life, and he takes great pride in seeing it not only grow but succeed.

Work, a resident of Cricket Lane in Columbiana, works as the director of sales at Compco Industries and is a graduate of Columbiana High School.

He also holds degrees from Mercyhurst College, where he went onto play football, and Bowling Green State University.

Work is a board member the United Way of Northern Columbiana County, Columbiana Youth Baseball Association and co-founder of the Clipper 12th Man organization.

This would be his first attempt at a public office, and he believes his extensive professional experience, strong educational background and deep community involvement makes him a good choice for trustee.

“My combination of business acumen, advanced education and dedication to Fairfield Township uniquely qualifies me to represent and serve our residents effectively,” he said, adding that his commitment to the township is demonstrated in his volunteer work with local organizations like the Clipper 12th Man.

Work and wife of 17 years Lauren have two sons, Charlie, 14, and Jack, 13.