A lifelong Fayette County resident, Brance chose early in his career to dedicate his professional life to protecting the public and serving local communities. Throughout his BCI career, Brance led major investigative units including Financial Crimes, Cyber Crimes, Environmental Crimes, and Special Operations. His work required managing budgets, prioritizing resources, overseeing personnel, and ensuring accountability - responsibilities that mirror those of a county commissioner. He also developed and administered state and federal grants, evaluated high-cost technology investments, and balanced immediate operational needs with long-term financial sustainability.
Brance’s leadership in financial crimes strengthened his ability to identify waste, fraud, and inefficiency while reinforcing the importance of transparency and internal controls. Working alongside local governments, auditors, financial institutions, and regulatory agencies, he gained a practical understanding of how public dollars can be protected through careful oversight and informed decision-making.
As the leader of Ohio’s Cyber Crimes Unit, Brance coordinated a significant statewide expansion of staff, equipment, and forensic capabilities. He planned facilities and infrastructure needs, and implemented continuity and security plans. This experience is directly relevant to modern county government, where technology, cybersecurity, and risk management are essential components of fiscal responsibility.
Brance also created and delivered Internet safety presentations throughout Ohio schools and citizen groups, including ones in Fayette County. He taught students, parents, educators, and professionals on emerging digital threats, personal safety, and how to prevent our children and adults from becoming victims.
In addition to his investigative work, Brance served in regional and national leadership roles, including chairman of the Midwest Environmental Enforcement Association. This organization was a coalition of ten U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario. In that role, he collaborated with federal, state, and local agencies to share best practices for grants, budgets, and address complex cross-jurisdictional challenges. This experience reinforces a governing style centered on cooperation, accountability, and practical problem-solving. In conjunction with this, he was an adjunct instructor with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) on various investigative topics such as fraud, environmental crimes, and investigations.
Brance served 4 years with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, gaining firsthand insight into local operations and county budgeting realities. He further served as a board member and chairman of the Fayette Metropolitan Housing Authority, where he focused on policy oversight, regulatory compliance, and responsible stewardship of public housing resources while balancing financial accountability with community needs.
Brance’s professionalism and integrity have been recognized by numerous agencies. His honors include the Ohio Attorney General’s Office Professionalism Award, Awards of Distinction from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Justice-U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Awards of Merit from the U.S. Marshals Service and the United States Secret Service.
Taken together, Brance Johnson’s experience managing complex organizations, overseeing budgets and grants, and serving at the local, state, and national levels provides strong preparation to serve as Fayette County Commissioner. His background reflects steady CONSERVATIVE leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a lifelong commitment to public service.
As County Commissioner, Brance will bring a steady experienced voice to county government—one that listens first, plans carefully, and governs responsibly. His career reflects a simple commitment: making informed decisions, respecting the people you serve, and protecting public trust.
What I will do as Commissioner:
As Fayette County Commissioner, I will bring steady, experienced leadership focused on responsible decision-making and long-term results.
I will practice fiscal responsibility by closely reviewing budgets, contracts, and major expenditures to ensure county resources are used wisely, efficiently, and with accountability to the people who fund county government.
I will prioritize thoughtful, planned growth that strengthens the tax base and creates opportunity, while protecting farmland, infrastructure capacity, and the safety of our communities. When growth is done right it benefits everyone, and when growth is done wrong it costs taxpayers for decades.
I will prioritize public safety and preparedness by working closely with law enforcement, emergency services, and county departments to ensure coordination, readiness, and responsible investment in both physical and digital infrastructures.
I will lead with integrity and transparency, listening to townships, villages, the city, businesses, and residents before decisions are made-because good government starts with understanding the real-world impact of every vote.
Most importantly, I will approach every decision with a long-term view, asking not just what works today, but what best serves Fayette County’s future.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.