Delaware County Commissioner Jeff Benton has been approved by the Delaware County Board of Elections to be on the ballot to retain his seat in the March 15 Republican primary election.

Benton was appointed to the commission in September to fill a vacancy created when Ken O’Brien suddenly resigned in June. The term to which O’Brien was elected ends at the end of 2016.

Benton has to win the March GOP primary election and the November general election in order to retain the seat.

“Delaware County is a growing, vibrant community with good leadership in place now,” Benton said. “It’s a pleasure to work with my fellow commissioners, Gary Merrell and Barb Lewis, and the other countywide leaders. They are a dedicated, experienced, knowledgeable group of leaders, and together we will work to make sure that Delaware County remains economically strong and fiscally conservative.”

Benton said “it has been a genuine pleasure and honor to serve the Delaware County residents these last few months. … I have learned so much during my time in office, and have enjoyed tackling key issues, including sewer, economic development and transportation. I’ve also been working with our team to develop new long-range financial planning and analysis tools that will help us better plan for the future.”

Benton said he “decided to seek a full four-year term so that I can continue to work on these issues, using my business and financial skills to help Delaware County continue to be the economic star of central Ohio and a great place to live and work.”

Benton was endorsed for election to the full term by the Delaware County Republican Party Central Committee on Nov. 19.

Benton is a former CEO of the Delaware County Bank and a seventh-generation Delaware County resident who’s been active with the Little Brown Jug Society, the Central Ohio Symphony and other local organizations.