Gina Space challenges Doug O'Meara for Dover law director

DOVER ‒ Law Director Doug O'Meara will face Councilwoman Gina Space in the May 2 primary for the Democratic Party nomination to run for law director in the November general election.

No Republican has filed for the position.

More on candidates: May 2023 ballot: Contested primaries brewing for Dover, Uhrichsville mayor positions

O'Meara, 72, has been the city's law director since 2007. He is a graduate of Ohio University and the Case Western Reserve Law School. In addition to serving as Dover's law director, he has been an assistant Tuscarawas County prosecutor and Uhrichsville's assistant law director and law director.

He is married and has four adult children.

Space, 33, was elected to the council at large position in 2021. She is a graduate of the Ohio State University and received her law degree from the University of Akron. A practicing attorney, she worked several years in local government in Columbus. During that time she drafted and researched policy and legislation. Most of her work was focused on public safety areas like addiction and human trafficking.

Her father, former U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, once served as Dover law director.

Space is married and has two children.

The office pays $93,906.18 annually.

Dover has faced challenges in recent years

The city has faced turbulent times over the last couple of years. In 2021, city council launched an investigation into former Mayor Richard Homrighausen's conduct as mayor. Eventually, Homrighausen was indicted on several charges ‒ theft in office, dereliction of duty and four counts of soliciting improper compensation related to fees he collected for officiating at weddings. He was convicted in November on those charges and removed from office.

The city has yet to resolve one lawsuit filed by Homrighausen related to his firing of three city employees in 2021.

In addition, Dover has been sued by Dover Chemical Corp. in an effort to block enforcement of an ordinance passed by Dover City Council that would require the company to pay a surcharge on any electricity it uses over 100,000 kilowatt hours per month. The case is ongoing.

The Times-Reporter posed questions to both candidates, and here are their responses:

DOUG O'MEARA

Why should you be reelected? − "I should be reelected because I bring experience, integrity and knowledge to the job. I think that the continuity of having me continue to represent the city of Dover not only makes sense from the point of view of the day-to-day things, but especially because there still remains open two matters that I had hoped would be disposed of by now, which are the one remaining lawsuit with regards to the mayor of the city of Dover and the other with Dover Chemical Corp."

What would be your priorities if you are reelected? − Wrapping up the Dover Chemical lawsuit and prevailing in the final lawsuit involving Homrighausen, he said. He noted that money from the Dover Chemical surcharge is going into an escrow account. "It should be $1.2 million or $1.25 million by the end. We've incurred some attorney fees as we've went along, but I think we're going to recoup far in excess of that when we're done," he said. He added that some people might shrink from their responsibility when a $10 billion corporation goes after them, but "I did not."

GINA SPACE

Why should you be elected? −

"I am passionate about making Dover even a better place. I grew up here, I raise my family here, and I want to use my experience and my skills to help Dover thrive. Dover's had its share of struggles over the last few years. I think it's time to put all that behind us and move forward, and I hope I can be part of that."

What would your priorities be if elected? − Space said the law director could play a role if Dover council and its administration decide to move forward with seeking a city charter. "I'm passionate about economic development," she added. "I think the law director can do a lot to push forward incentives should we ever look at those and just help to be more intentional and conscience when it comes to economic development. I understand I'm young. I obviously haven't practiced law as many years as Law Director O'Meara, but I think being young and bringing youth into a situation, bringing change, sometimes that has its benefits too."

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Doug O'Meara, Gina Space are candidates for Dover law director