{"id":2484,"date":"2026-06-23T18:52:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T18:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/?page_id=2484"},"modified":"2026-06-23T18:52:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T18:52:57","slug":"michael-lorentz-belpre","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/michael-lorentz-belpre\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Lorentz | Belpre"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mayor Michael Lorentz Reflects on 13 Years of Growth and Community in Belpre<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Michael<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n

Michael Lorentz, the mayor of Belpre, describes the city as a small, welcoming community. And despite being small, it\u2019s thriving.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 13 years since Lorentz became mayor, he\u2019s seen many new businesses move into Belpre, everything from health care to Taco Bell and other restaurants to a new coffee shop coming in the spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re better off now than we were 10, 12 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz has lived in Belpre for most of his life. He raised his children there and wanted to create a place that was good enough for them to stay, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone with kids would be pleased to say, \u2018Hey this might be the place for us,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz\u2019s journey to becoming mayor started with his kids. When his children were in high school band, Lorentz and his wife joined the band boosters. When he made a suggestion for the band to travel less to save money because of financial troubles, a school board member told him he could \u201cput up or shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I went home, called my boss and said \u2018I\u2019ll be a little bit late in the morning.\u2019 I went to Marietta and turned in my petition for the school board,\u201d Lorentz said. He was on the school board for 14 years.<\/p>\n

He retired from his job in 2006 and ended up running for city council president. He went to a Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress meeting, and the then-current mayor, who was planning on stepping down from the post, introduced Lorentz as the next mayor of Belpre.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said \u2018You have got to be crazy, I won\u2019t do that,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said. But, after talking with his wife, he decided he would run.<\/p>\n

As mayor, Lorentz saw the Marietta Memorial Hospital move into the region and became the largest employer in Belpre. The town\u2019s other large employer, Kraton, a biochemical polymer factory, also employs a great number of people, including Lorentz before he retired.<\/p>\n

During the pandemic, new businesses did continue to open. But one of the biggest struggles Belpre is facing is how much of a deterrent the pandemic has been to many individuals working, because some don\u2019t want to work and others aren\u2019t able to, Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress, supported by Ohio University\u2019s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, has been a help for Lorentz during the pandemic and before it, he said. With large amounts of money coming in from the federal and state governments, Lorentz has been able to work with others to determine the best ways to use the money. It was<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a transition for him coming from industry to the government sector with constraints on how to use budgeted money, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress) been a blessing,\u201d Lorentz said. \u201cNo matter what your background, once you take a job like this, trust me, you don\u2019t know it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lorentz said retirement from government service is on the horizon for him, even though he\u2019s enjoyed being mayor and will miss it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope to leave (Belpre) in a better place than I found it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n

Michael Lorentz, the mayor of Belpre, describes the city as a small, welcoming community. And despite being small, it\u2019s thriving.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 13 years since Lorentz became mayor, he\u2019s seen many new businesses move into Belpre, everything from health care to Taco Bell and other restaurants to a new coffee shop coming in the spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re better off now than we were 10, 12 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz has lived in Belpre for most of his life. He raised his children there and wanted to create a place that was good enough for them to stay, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone with kids would be pleased to say, \u2018Hey this might be the place for us,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz\u2019s journey to becoming mayor started with his kids. When his children were in high school band, Lorentz and his wife joined the band boosters. When he made a suggestion for the band to travel less to save money because of financial troubles, a school board member told him he could \u201cput up or shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I went home, called my boss and said \u2018I\u2019ll be a little bit late in the morning.\u2019 I went to Marietta and turned in my petition for the school board,\u201d Lorentz said. He was on the school board for 14 years.<\/p>\n

He retired from his job in 2006 and ended up running for city council president. He went to a Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress meeting, and the then-current mayor, who was planning on stepping down from the post, introduced Lorentz as the next mayor of Belpre.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said \u2018You have got to be crazy, I won\u2019t do that,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said. But, after talking with his wife, he decided he would run.<\/p>\n

As mayor, Lorentz saw the Marietta Memorial Hospital move into the region and became the largest employer in Belpre. The town\u2019s other large employer, Kraton, a biochemical polymer factory, also employs a great number of people, including Lorentz before he retired.<\/p>\n

During the pandemic, new businesses did continue to open. But one of the biggest struggles Belpre is facing is how much of a deterrent the pandemic has been to many individuals working, because some don\u2019t want to work and others aren\u2019t able to, Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress, supported by Ohio University\u2019s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, has been a help for Lorentz during the pandemic and before it, he said. With large amounts of money coming in from the federal and state governments, Lorentz has been able to work with others to determine the best ways to use the money. It was<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a transition for him coming from industry to the government sector with constraints on how to use budgeted money, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress) been a blessing,\u201d Lorentz said. \u201cNo matter what your background, once you take a job like this, trust me, you don\u2019t know it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lorentz said retirement from government service is on the horizon for him, even though he\u2019s enjoyed being mayor and will miss it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope to leave (Belpre) in a better place than I found it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n

Michael Lorentz, the mayor of Belpre, describes the city as a small, welcoming community. And despite being small, it\u2019s thriving.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 13 years since Lorentz became mayor, he\u2019s seen many new businesses move into Belpre, everything from health care to Taco Bell and other restaurants to a new coffee shop coming in the spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re better off now than we were 10, 12 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz has lived in Belpre for most of his life. He raised his children there and wanted to create a place that was good enough for them to stay, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone with kids would be pleased to say, \u2018Hey this might be the place for us,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz\u2019s journey to becoming mayor started with his kids. When his children were in high school band, Lorentz and his wife joined the band boosters. When he made a suggestion for the band to travel less to save money because of financial troubles, a school board member told him he could \u201cput up or shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I went home, called my boss and said \u2018I\u2019ll be a little bit late in the morning.\u2019 I went to Marietta and turned in my petition for the school board,\u201d Lorentz said. He was on the school board for 14 years.<\/p>\n

He retired from his job in 2006 and ended up running for city council president. He went to a Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress meeting, and the then-current mayor, who was planning on stepping down from the post, introduced Lorentz as the next mayor of Belpre.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said \u2018You have got to be crazy, I won\u2019t do that,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said. But, after talking with his wife, he decided he would run.<\/p>\n

As mayor, Lorentz saw the Marietta Memorial Hospital move into the region and became the largest employer in Belpre. The town\u2019s other large employer, Kraton, a biochemical polymer factory, also employs a great number of people, including Lorentz before he retired.<\/p>\n

During the pandemic, new businesses did continue to open. But one of the biggest struggles Belpre is facing is how much of a deterrent the pandemic has been to many individuals working, because some don\u2019t want to work and others aren\u2019t able to, Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress, supported by Ohio University\u2019s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, has been a help for Lorentz during the pandemic and before it, he said. With large amounts of money coming in from the federal and state governments, Lorentz has been able to work with others to determine the best ways to use the money. It was<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a transition for him coming from industry to the government sector with constraints on how to use budgeted money, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress) been a blessing,\u201d Lorentz said. \u201cNo matter what your background, once you take a job like this, trust me, you don\u2019t know it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lorentz said retirement from government service is on the horizon for him, even though he\u2019s enjoyed being mayor and will miss it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope to leave (Belpre) in a better place than I found it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n

Michael Lorentz, the mayor of Belpre, describes the city as a small, welcoming community. And despite being small, it\u2019s thriving.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 13 years since Lorentz became mayor, he\u2019s seen many new businesses move into Belpre, everything from health care to Taco Bell and other restaurants to a new coffee shop coming in the spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re better off now than we were 10, 12 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz has lived in Belpre for most of his life. He raised his children there and wanted to create a place that was good enough for them to stay, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone with kids would be pleased to say, \u2018Hey this might be the place for us,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz\u2019s journey to becoming mayor started with his kids. When his children were in high school band, Lorentz and his wife joined the band boosters. When he made a suggestion for the band to travel less to save money because of financial troubles, a school board member told him he could \u201cput up or shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I went home, called my boss and said \u2018I\u2019ll be a little bit late in the morning.\u2019 I went to Marietta and turned in my petition for the school board,\u201d Lorentz said. He was on the school board for 14 years.<\/p>\n

He retired from his job in 2006 and ended up running for city council president. He went to a Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress meeting, and the then-current mayor, who was planning on stepping down from the post, introduced Lorentz as the next mayor of Belpre.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said \u2018You have got to be crazy, I won\u2019t do that,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said. But, after talking with his wife, he decided he would run.<\/p>\n

As mayor, Lorentz saw the Marietta Memorial Hospital move into the region and became the largest employer in Belpre. The town\u2019s other large employer, Kraton, a biochemical polymer factory, also employs a great number of people, including Lorentz before he retired.<\/p>\n

During the pandemic, new businesses did continue to open. But one of the biggest struggles Belpre is facing is how much of a deterrent the pandemic has been to many individuals working, because some don\u2019t want to work and others aren\u2019t able to, Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress, supported by Ohio University\u2019s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, has been a help for Lorentz during the pandemic and before it, he said. With large amounts of money coming in from the federal and state governments, Lorentz has been able to work with others to determine the best ways to use the money. It was<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a transition for him coming from industry to the government sector with constraints on how to use budgeted money, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress) been a blessing,\u201d Lorentz said. \u201cNo matter what your background, once you take a job like this, trust me, you don\u2019t know it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lorentz said retirement from government service is on the horizon for him, even though he\u2019s enjoyed being mayor and will miss it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope to leave (Belpre) in a better place than I found it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n

Michael Lorentz, the mayor of Belpre, describes the city as a small, welcoming community. And despite being small, it\u2019s thriving.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 13 years since Lorentz became mayor, he\u2019s seen many new businesses move into Belpre, everything from health care to Taco Bell and other restaurants to a new coffee shop coming in the spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re better off now than we were 10, 12 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz has lived in Belpre for most of his life. He raised his children there and wanted to create a place that was good enough for them to stay, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone with kids would be pleased to say, \u2018Hey this might be the place for us,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

Lorentz\u2019s journey to becoming mayor started with his kids. When his children were in high school band, Lorentz and his wife joined the band boosters. When he made a suggestion for the band to travel less to save money because of financial troubles, a school board member told him he could \u201cput up or shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I went home, called my boss and said \u2018I\u2019ll be a little bit late in the morning.\u2019 I went to Marietta and turned in my petition for the school board,\u201d Lorentz said. He was on the school board for 14 years.<\/p>\n

He retired from his job in 2006 and ended up running for city council president. He went to a Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress meeting, and the then-current mayor, who was planning on stepping down from the post, introduced Lorentz as the next mayor of Belpre.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said \u2018You have got to be crazy, I won\u2019t do that,\u2019\u201d Lorentz said. But, after talking with his wife, he decided he would run.<\/p>\n

As mayor, Lorentz saw the Marietta Memorial Hospital move into the region and became the largest employer in Belpre. The town\u2019s other large employer, Kraton, a biochemical polymer factory, also employs a great number of people, including Lorentz before he retired.<\/p>\n

During the pandemic, new businesses did continue to open. But one of the biggest struggles Belpre is facing is how much of a deterrent the pandemic has been to many individuals working, because some don\u2019t want to work and others aren\u2019t able to, Lorentz said.<\/p>\n

The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress, supported by Ohio University\u2019s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, has been a help for Lorentz during the pandemic and before it, he said. With large amounts of money coming in from the federal and state governments, Lorentz has been able to work with others to determine the best ways to use the money. It was<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a transition for him coming from industry to the government sector with constraints on how to use budgeted money, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (The Mayors\u2019 Partnership for Progress) been a blessing,\u201d Lorentz said. \u201cNo matter what your background, once you take a job like this, trust me, you don\u2019t know it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lorentz said retirement from government service is on the horizon for him, even though he\u2019s enjoyed being mayor and will miss it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope to leave (Belpre) in a better place than I found it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2484","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2484"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2486,"href":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2484\/revisions\/2486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/voinovichacademy.ohio.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}