Bruce Bandel has announced his candidacy for Washington County commissioner on the Republican ballot in the May 16th primary. Bandel says he is an experienced entrepreneur and small business owner, having worked for ten years in sales and marketing in door-to-door work as a canvasser and recruiter. He was an Independent Contractor for twenty-two years with Keller Williams Realty where he says he handled both residential and commercial properties serving both buyers and sellers alike; closing deals in excess of one million dollars. Bandel is also an ordained minister of the Gospel; having planted and pastored a small church in Eighty-Four called “In Christ Community Fellowship” for seven years. Currently, Bandel owns and operates Bandel Airport, a privately owned public-use airport in Eighty-Four. Bandel says he will lead by serving “We the People” in Washington County with integrity and virtue. He says he will bring his longstanding business experience and wisdom to county government. Bandel says he believes in term limits to secure continued faith in those who are elected. He says he will ensure financial accountability and transparency to enable the county to fund the government into the future. Bandel says, if elected, he will be focused on reducing the burden of taxes on the people and exploring new ways to empower the business sector to produce good paying jobs.