MARTINS FERRY — Incumbent Democrat Mark Thomas will face Republican Jerry Echemann in a race to retain his seat on the Belmont County Board of Commissioners during the November general election, according to Tuesday’s unofficial vote tally.

Thomas garnered 1,448 votes during Tuesday’s primary election.

He was competing with three other candidates for the Democrat nomination: Angela Hatfield, who received 1,267 votes; Mike Bianconi, who captured 1,239 votes; and Chuck Probst, with 1,369 votes.

Echemann received 1,996 votes to win his party’s nomination. His competitor, Belmont County Republican Party Chairman Christopher Gagin, received 1,826 votes.

“I’m very honored the voters went with me. It was a very tight race. Now I have to win over those Republican voters who went with Chris instead of me,” Echemann said.

Echemann said he plans to campaign all summer long leading up to the election in November in an effort to do just that.

“It’s very flattering,” Echemann said of winning the nomination. “When people pick your name on the ballot, it says, ‘I trust this guy to take care of the county.’ … It’s really an honor. I’ve lived in Belmont County since 1980, so this is an opportunity to give back a little. I want to thank everybody. I’m going to do the best I can if I get in there. I’m about moving the county forward on an economic basis. You don’t go in as a boss. It’s a three-member team. I will work with those guys to move us forward — that’s what I intend to do.”

Thomas declined to comment following his victory Tuesday evening.

Hatfield said she knew it was going to be a tight race. She plans to continue her work with animals in the county via the Belmont County Humane Society, which is not affiliated with the county commission.

“I went into this thing with a good attitude and whatever happened, happened,” Hatfield said. “In a race with four other people it was a difficult thing. I am in a good place in life with what I do with the humane society and my passion for animals. I will continue to help here in Belmont County. My heart is still in it. I will continue the work I do. Nothing has changed for me tonight.”

Bianconi did not have much to say Tuesday night after learning the results of the race.

“I have nothing to say. That’s democracy,” Bianconi said.

Probst also could not be reached for comment at press time.

Gagin congratulated Echemann on his campaign.

“I congratulate Jerry on a well run campaign, and I want to thank everyone that supported my candidacy. The Belmont County Republican Party will be unified and completely behind Jerry’s campaign in the fall,” Gagin said.

Echemann, 59, is a resident of Martins Ferry and had been on the ballot two previous times. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ohio University and spent 28 years as a reporter for WTRF 7 news. He spent the last seven years as the announcer at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, retiring on Dec. 31. Echemann said previously that he believes the future of Belmont County hinges on attracting jobs to the area, along with tourism dollars. He said the county has a lot to offer potential businesses, pointing to the interstate highway and rail systems and proximity to the Ohio River.

Thomas, 58, is in his fourth term as a county commissioner. He served 2001-09 and from 2013 to present.

Prior to being elected to the commission seat, the St. Clairsville resident served on St. Clairsville City Council in 1995 and was the city’s law director from 1995-2001. He has a bachelor’s degree in business from Kent State University and a juris doctorate from Ohio Northern University. He practiced law from 1987 to 2015 and has been in the restaurant business since 1999.

Thomas previously said he believes the biggest challenge for Belmont County is ensuring fiscal responsibility.

According to information from the Belmont County Board of Elections, of the 47,277 voters registered in the county, 9,570 — or 20.24 percent — voted in this primary.