City law director race: Brian Gernert says his track records speaks for itself

Brian Gernert says he has been busy since being appointed Bucyrus' interim law director in October 2021.

"I think just my track record sort of speaks for itself in terms of what I've been able to accomplish and what I've brought to the city," he said. "I believe that I've represented the city and their legal interests very positively and appropriately for the past two years."

Gernert, 36, 1145 W. Mansfield St., is now hoping to see the word "interim" removed from his job title. He's seeking the Republican nomination for the post in the May 2 primary. His opponent will be John Andrew Motter, 912 Victoria Drive, who served as the city's law director two decades ago.

No Democrats have filed in the race. Independent candidates have until May 1 to submit petitions to the Crawford County Board of Elections.

Gernert, a Bucyrus native, is one of five siblings. He graduated from Wynford High School in 2005 and from Bowling Green State University in 2008. He earned a juris doctorate from the University of Toledo, then returned to Bucyrus in 2012 and started to practice law with his father at Kennedy, Purdy, Hoeffel and Gernert.

"I really started working with Dad since about '05; I had worked summers and evenings after school sort of law clerking, so been up here for a long time," Gernert said. Since becoming interim law director, he has continued to work part-time at the law practice.

He lives with his three dogs — Oscar, Kermit and Grover.

Gernert: 'I understand I have personal issues'

Gernert has acknowledged his struggles with alcohol.

According to Crawford County Municipal Court records, in 2014, he was found guilty on a physical control violation, a first-degree misdemeanor. In August 2021, he was charged with disorderly conduct, a minor misdemeanor, following an incident inside his law office at 111 W. Rensselaer St. The charge was dismissed and he was sentenced to a diversion therapy program, according to previous T-F reports.

In May 2022, Gernert was found guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to court records. He was convicted of OVI again in September.

In an interview with the Telegraph-Forum, Gernert raised the issue.

"I understand I have personal issues that have at times overshadowed the city's goal of becoming a great place for people to bring their families to and open businesses and live and work," he said. "And I also take that very seriously and I'm trying to do the appropriate things to get my personal life and personal affairs in order."

Gernert said he enjoys job's varied duties

Gernert said he enjoys serving as law director because "every day is a new and exciting adventure." When acting as the city's prosecutor, he feels he has more of an opportunity to direct outcomes and try to help people.

"And then just the civil aspect of it. One day, you're looking at taxi cab law and then election levy law — advising the mayor, advising City Council, doing the property maintenance," he said. "It's just a plethora of different topics and it's kind of like law school again, where you do a lot more research and spend time contemplating issues and considering different viewpoints. ... In this role, you're more of an intermediary, trying to approach it from all sides and give an honest opinion regardless of what the mayor's opinion is or what council's opinion is. The law is the law, regardless of my personal feelings, the mayor's feelings, council's feelings — those kinds of issues."

The law director's most important function is "just keeping everybody, including the administration, including council, advised of the legalities of any given issue," Gernert said.

Working with the city's administration, the law director might be called upon to offer advice on contracts for materials and jobs, or on human resources issues — everything from contract negotiations to day-to-day discipline of employees or lateral transfers for employees joining the police or fire departments, he said.

The law director also must ensure legislation approved by city council meets legal requirements, and that council is going through the right process and procedures, Gernert said.

Job requires general knowledge of diverse topics

"Obviously, we spend a lot of time in council discussing whether things were properly presented, ensuring that all of the public hearings have been had in the right order," he said.

"So I think just a general knowledge of a large amount of different things, so to adequately prepare council, the mayor, the civil service, the unions, those types of things," Gernert said. "Make sure that everybody understands their role and and the legalities behind it. ...

"I think that at times I've tried to be a sort of intermediary and sort of a level-head voice of reason to a degree between some of the parties that have come at it from different perspectives. And trying to get everybody on the same page I think is important from the law director because we don't really have a dog in the fight. I don't have any authority to veto anything. I don't have the ability to vote on anything in council. So, you know, giving them an honest appraisal of what the law is and and the possible ramifications."

In addition to working well with city leaders, the law director must cooperate with people in the municipal court system, Gernert said. He works well with Judge Shane Leuthold, the probation department and the diversion and employment location program, Gernert said.

Property maintenance, tax collection and tax filing cases require the law director to work with the court magistrate toward the end goal, which is ultimately "just to get people to comply," he said.

"We're not trying to jack up fines and run people through the ringer and inconvenience anybody," he said. "We're trying to get people to file their taxes and comply with the property maintenance standards. I mean, we do a good job, too, working with the property maintenance department and working with the tax department and trying to get these people before we have to go to court. So you know, in property maintenance, we send out notices, we'll come out and talk to property owners, discuss what issues they may have. We give extensions based upon good faith effort and things to that effect."

Gernert said he takes his job very seriously.

"Over the past two years, my track record, as far as criminal prosecutions, tax prosecutions, property maintenance and in handling council's affairs as well as handling cases and litigation that the city has been involved in, I think that speaks very positively of my work ethic and dedication," he said. "To the job at hand, you know, I prepare for all of that — prepare for council, prepare for court. I put in the time and the effort to do a good job for the citizens of Bucyrus."

ggoble@gannett.com

419-559-7263

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Brian Gernert seeks GOP nomination for Bucyrus law director