Matthew Toth Lebanon Daily News
During the Dec. 16 Lebanon County commissioners meeting, board member William Ames teleconferenced in for a discussion of the 2022 county budget. During that meeting, he confirmed he had COVID-19.
“I’m in a weakened position right now but I’m still strong, and I still think we have a responsibility to provide for the health and safety of the residents of Lebanon County,” he said.
Defending the commissioners’ plans to pass an 18% property tax increase — the local Republican Party had issued a fierce statement opposing the increase — Ames said it was unfortunate that GOP committee members didn’t want to sit down with commissioners about their concerns before the meeting.
“He was feisty and saying he was thinking about running for another term now because of that, because he wanted to push back a little on that,” Chairman Robert Phillips said. “That’s how his spirit was that little time ago.”
On Tuesday morning, Republican County Commissioner William Ames died due to COVID-19 complications, after being hospitalized at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital. Commissioners said more information would be released later today.
Lebanon County Republican Committee Chairman Edward Lynch said Ames was known for his outspokenness and staunchly conservative views.
“Commissioner Ames was a faithful husband, father, grandfather and public servant,” he said in a statement. “Bill was deeply devoted to making Lebanon County a better place for everyone who lived here; for that we all owe him our deepest gratitude and respect.”
Democratic Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz said that Ames was never shy about his stand on an issue, and admired the way Ames cared for his family.
“He loved his wife (Josie), and often referred to her as his bride, bragged about her and defended her to high heaven,” she said. “Every husband should take a lesson in that. He was very good at letting his wife know she was loved and I always admired that.”
Ames first ran for his county commissioner seat in 2011, and was serving his third term in office. Ames had also been a teacher and and administrator and owner of several businesses, including Ames Janitorial Services.
“I think his resume really made him a great fit for being a county commissioner,” Phillips said. “He was a long-time teacher, he was a shop steward for the union, he was a business creator in the building trades area. He just had a great sense of balance between his work and his volunteerism.”
Ames was a chief critic of a deal between Lebanon County and Gov. Tom Wolf over federal COVID-19 relief aid spent on an advertising campaign that promoted wearing masks.
“My feeling from the get-go … in the beginning, was we take care of our businesses here in Lebanon County,” he said at a December 2020 commissioners meeting.
Ames and fellow county Commissioner Robert Philips pushed for the reopening of the county after strict pandemic restrictions had not been lifted by the state. In doing so, they defied Wolf’s orders. In response, the governor eventually granted federal money to Lebanon County, requiring the $2.8 million be spent on a masking campaign.
The pandemic shined a spotlight on the county’s conservative values and history of battling state Democrats.
His last campaign – in 2019 – divided the party, as one of his opponents was endorsed by the Lebanon County Republican Committee over Ames.
The committee officially endorsed candidate Matt Shirk, and the unorthodox support for Shirk along with a flurry of negative advertising caused deep divides among party leaders.
Shirk accused Ames of “nepotism” for helping to get family members appointed or elected to county positions.
Ames addressed the allegations, saying he had only one relative who is a paid Lebanon County employee – Lebanon County Planning Department Executive Director Julie Cheyney, his daughter-in-law – and “she’s here in her own right.”
Three of the county’s political leaders signed a letter requesting the immediate resignation of the LCRC chairman because of those efforts.
The letter, in 2019, said that chairman Casey Long’s actions “have damaged the Republican brand and threaten the electoral success of every Republican candidate and public official in the county.” Signers included state Sen. Mike Folmer and state Reps. Russ Diamond and Frank Ryan.
Ryan on Tuesday was asking for prayers for Ames and his family, saying “a very close friend of mine and the community passed away.”
Court of Common Pleas President Judge John Tylwalk will appoint a person of the same party affiliation to fill for Ames’ seat, with commissioners saying that process will begin in the upcoming weeks.
“He was always a fearless advocate for Lebanon County, and I think that’s going to be his legacy,” Phillips said.
USA TODAY Network reporter Kim Strong contributed to this report. Reach her at [email protected].
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @DAMattToth.
Author: Amaury Abreu
