Four candidates running for Saybrook Township trustee

Sep. 21—SAYBROOK — Incumbent Dan Claypool, faces three opponents on the Nov. 7 ballot to fill the unexpired term of Trustee Norm Jepson.

When Jepson retired in August, the trustees chose Claypool from a field of candidates to fill the seat until the election. Voters will find Claypool, along with Pete Davis, Jason A. Keeler and Jerry Orlando on the ballot.

Pete Davis

Davis, 55, was born and raised in Saybrook. He's been employed with Saybrook Township for 40 years. A 1986 graduate of Harbor High School, Davis attended the University of Akron for Fire Technology.

"I'm hoping to be elected because I truly believe I can provide our community with a true understanding of our township needs, while taking a personal stand to do what's best for our Saybrook residents," he said. "My previous and present experience encompasses a 40 year tenure working for the people of Saybrook."

Davis has worked with Saybrook Fire Department as a part-time firefighter, emergency medical technician and now, captain of Fire Station No. 2. When the full time position with the township road department became available, I decided that was a better option.

"I have been involved with the community as a coach at Saybrook Little League for 13 years," he said. "I also volunteered as an assistant coach for Lakeside High School's softball team. I have delivered food/gifts to the annual HALO program during the holidays and have participated in 5K walks/fundraisers for shelter/abused animals."

If elected Saybrook trustee, Davis promises to assure township residents that he will work hard, and make every effort to ensure the people are getting their problems/concerns addressed in a timely manner.

"I will be committed to working with both established and new businesses to promote growth within our township, and explain to them why Saybrook is such an amazing place to live and work," he said. "My overall goal is to work honestly and earnestly to make Saybrook a clean, safe, productive place to raise our families, make new friends and prosper."

Davis and his wife, Kathy, have been married for 31 years. Together they raised two daughters, Stephanie (a nurse) and Andrea (a 4th grade teacher). In his spare time, Davis enjoys family get-togethers, hanging out with friends, fishing, working on small projects around my home, and being available to help neighbors, friends and family with things they need.

Jason A. Keeler

Jason A. Keeler, 44, holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Kent State University's Police Academy. He's also a non-commissioned officer training with the U.S. Army.

His experience includes serving as trustee of Monroe Township 1998-2002 and serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 2002-07, with two tours in Iraq.

Keeler owns Big Pearl Paintball Inc., in Conneaut, giving him experience as a local business owner.

His volunteer work includes Child Safety Seat Technician With Safe communities, serving on the Saybrook Board of Zoning Appeals and the Ashtabula County Home Safe Board of Directors.

"I will ensure that when the voters pass a levy that the money is well spent and the projects finish on time and on budget," he said. "I'll also help update the zoning text to better fit the community and encourage business growth."

Keeler's parents were Alan and Dottie Keeler from Monroe Township. In 2019, he married Christina Keeler, whose parents are Ron and Luann Wilkinson, owners of Wilkinson Paving.

In his spare time, he enjoys playing paintball and Airsoft. During the winter, he likes to play in-depth military strategy games.

Jerry Orlando

Orlando, 38, owns Orlando Chiropractic with offices in Conneaut and Ashtabula.

A 2003 graduate of Sts. John and Paul High school, he graduated from Gannon University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in science. In 2012, he graduated from New York Chiropractic College with a Doctorate in Chiropractic.

"Despite never having been involved with politics in the past, I believe that the people making decisions for any community should be a positive reflection of the community they represent and be as committed and passionate about the results of decision-making as the citizens who are impacted by them," he said.

"Further, I have always believed that the best model for politics is that any office or seat of power should be run as efficiently as a business, and be bound by the same personal accountability and results that business owners are bound by."

If elected, Orlando promises to continue to make Saybrook a desirable area in Ashtabula County and to bring fresh ideas to the table that will help the area flourish.

Orlando has been involved in family business all of his life and has solely ran his chiropractic business for the last nine years successfully.

"In my endeavors as a business owner, I have learned the importance of personal responsibility, reliability, loyalty, and devotion in pursuit of success," he said. "These qualities are engrained in my nature and I believe make me uniquely qualified to serve the citizens of Saybrook Township.

Orlando's community involvement includes serving on the Finance Council for Our Lady of Peace Parish for four years and the Ashtabula Kiwanis Member for four years. He's been a member of the Ashtabula Elks Member for 11 years, and the Knights of Columbus Fourth degree for 20 years.

If elected, he wants to implement an overpass for the northern set of tracks on Route 45, to help alleviate congestion when dealing with a stopped train and to ultimately create a straight access point for first responders.

"I will continue to bring new business to the area along Route 45 and Interstate 90 and work with new business owners to help them get established," he said.

Orlando has been married to his wife, Lyndsey, for nine years and they have two children, Natalie (7) and Paulo (5).

Dan Claypool

Claypool, 69, a lifelong resident of Ashtabula County, started his career as a certified police officer, serving the Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office for more than 20 years. During that time, he attended numerous leadership and career training schools, becoming a Microsoft Certified System Engineer while serving as Ashtabula County 911 coordinator.

"I believe with my years of experience in government administration, I can use those skills to maintain the high-quality services Saybrook Township residents expect and deserve," he said. "Additionally, I can use the relationships I have developed over the years with local, county, and regional leaders to expand economic opportunities in the township."

Claypool boasts experience in government administration by serving in senior leadership positions at the Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office, and as an Ashtabula County Information Technology Director, a Lenox Township Trustee and Ashtabula County Commissioner. While serving as a senior officer at the Sheriff's Office, he led a group of public safety officers and elected officials that developed and implemented the Ashtabula County 911 system, known today as the County Wide Emergency Communication Network.

While serving as a Lenox Township trustee, he served as South Central Ambulance President.

"During this time, we were able to construct the district's headquarters, without raising the district's taxes," he said. "As Ashtabula County Commissioner, I served on various committees and boards to include serving as a member of Ashtabula Growth Partnership Executive Board, Ashtabula County Planning Commission, President of Eastgate Council of Governments, Chairperson of Geauga, Ashtabula, Portage Workforce Development Partnership and as a director for the Ohio County Commissioner's Association."

If elected, one of Claypool's goals is to update the 1987 Saybrook Township zoning text. He's been endorsed by the Ashtabula County AFL-CIO and the Laborers' International Union of North America Local 245.

A graduate of Geneva High School, Claypool and his wife, Sandy, live in Saybrook Township.