Mark A. Hoelscher of Richmond is running for Wayne County Commissioner as a Republican candidate in the 2026 primary election.
2026 Election Guide
The Western Wayne News asked candidates in contested races for the May 5 primary election the same questions.
- List your education and employment history highlights (100 words or less).
- What are two specific reasons you decided to run for this office? (100 words or less.)
- If elected/reelected, what are your top three priorities for your time in office? (150 words or less.)
- What are two specific skills you would bring to the office to benefit constituents, if elected/reelected? (100 words or less.)
- What’s one aspect of the government body you’re seeking to join or lead that you think is working well and should continue? (100 words or less.)
- What’s one aspect of the body you’re seeking to join or lead that you think needs to change, and what specific action(s) would you pursue to change it? (100 words or less.)
- Will you accept the results of the election process even if you are not elected/reelected? (50 words or less.)
- With state and federal changes limiting funding for government services, what specific strategies will you pursue if elected to sustain the finances of the body you’re seeking to join or lead? (150 words or less)
- Beyond encouraging attendance at public meetings, how do you plan to involve residents in decision making processes that the office you seek is a part of? (100 words or less.)
- Any other comments you’d like to share about your candidacy? (150 words or less.)
Candidates were given three weeks to respond with a firm deadline and word limits. We share their answers here, unedited from their original form.
For full election coverage, visit the Western Wayne News 2026 Election Guide.
Editor’s note: the candidate’s response to WWN’s questions were not organized by question number, so we rearranged his remarks to go with the question that seemed like the best fit. The candidate made several serious claims, without providing evidence, about incumbent candidate Brad Dwenger, and those have been removed as a part of our editorial policy against publishing defamatory or libelous comments.
Bio highlights: I am a graduate of Richmond Senior High School and Ball State University. I was elected to the position of Auditor more than fifty years ago and again three years ago. I want to thank the voters for allowing me to serve them twice.
After my earlier term as Auditor, I became the business manager of the Northeastern School Corporation followed by my owning my own business.
Reasons you ran: While running for Commissioner instead of Auditor, I am giving up a $90,000 a year job and am doing so because of the way Wayne County is run by a few for their own egos and their desire for power over the elected officials. That needs to stop.
This election is not about right verses left. This election is about confronting Brad Dwenger about his use of [remarks removed].
Top priorities: The candidate did not provide an answer to this question.
Specific skills: I will be open and run my office in a lawful manner. After taking office as Auditor, I implemented lawful procedures and accountability and oversight of the taxpayers’ money that should have been implemented years before.
Should continue: The candidate did not provide an answer to this question.
Needs to change: Wayne County is flush with funds despite Brad Dwenger telling the taxpayers that the County is broke.
They have created funds that have never been spent for the sole purpose of creating interest income for the County. One of these is the emergency fund with a balance of $4,000,000.
As Commissioner I will propose eliminating this fund and replace it with a line of credit to be used in the case of emergencies, and that part of the $4,000,000 be used to construct a permanent animal shelter near the Fair Grounds owned by the County.
Accept election results: The candidate did not provide an answer to this question.
Funding strategies: For me, taxpayers’ priorities come first – not the purchase of a $500,000 SWAT vehicle for the Sheriff’s Department (a department that Dwenger works for and receives a county car from), or the implementation of an unnecessary wheel tax.
Engaging the public: The candidate did not provide an answer to this question.
Other comments: I am an adult who will take criticism in an adult manner and will never use Dwenger’s methods of [remarks removed].
I am not part of the “good old boy system” that currently controls Wayne County.
Please remember that elections have consequences.
The choice is yours. You have the power.
A version of this article will appear in the April 8 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.