Leigh Gribble named deputy director of Crawford County Board of Elections

Leigh Gribble will be the new deputy director of the Crawford County Board of Elections, according to Kim Rudd, the board's new director.

Gribble, who was selected Thursday, is the wife of elections board member Terry Gribble, who recused himself from the interview process, Rudd said. He will be leaving the board as soon as she is sworn into office.

"I'm very excited," Rudd said. "She comes with a wealth of knowledge."

Leigh Gribble is the administrative assistant at the Ashland University Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and in the past has had several jobs in Crawford County government, Rudd said. Gribble has worked at the extension office and Crawford County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

"She's going to be a great addition to our team, I think," said Rudd, who became the board's director on Jan. 1, following the retirement of Ruth Leuthold. Prior to that, Rudd was the deputy director.

The new deputy director is expected to start around the end of the month.

Statewide issues keep local board busy

Rudd is anticipating a busy election year, despite having a short list of local races on the calendar.

An Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative circulated petitions in the county, which were checked through the local elections board office late last year. After the Ohio Secretary of State's Office ruled the initiative had not collected enough valid signatures to put the issue on the fall ballot, backers had until Thursday to collect a sufficient amount, Rudd said.

More signatures were submitted, but none from Crawford County, she said.

On Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down GOP-drawn state House and Senate district maps as unconstitutional gerrymandering in a 4-3 decision, sending the maps back to the drawing board.

"So we're waiting on decisions on that," she said. At the earliest, her office will have general assembly maps around Jan. 25 or 26. "That's putting a crunch on us to be able to get everything programmed and everything."

There will be at least one local liquor option on the fall ballot. The deadline for filing to place an issue on the ballot is Feb. 2. Rudd said she anticipates other issues will be filed, but no countywide ones.

County commissioner, auditor have filed petitions

While there will be plenty of state and district races, only two county positions will be on the ballot this year: One county commissioner and the county auditor. The deadline for partisan candidates to file is Feb. 2.

Commissioner Tim Ley took out his petitions in December and already has filed them, he said.

"I want to make sure that the county residents are well taken care of with this ARP (American Rescue Plan) money," Ley said of his goals for the next term. "I mean, we are putting in money for this infrastructure, the water line project."

The county plans to use its $8 million share of the federal money to extend Bucyrus' water lines to Sulphur Springs — where many wells have failed — and around the county landfill, he explained. Wells near the landfill are monitored regularly and remain safe, but county officials want to be sure city water service is available should that ever change.

A water line out to Oceola also is planned, Ley said. Funds also will be used to retool Galion's water retreatment plant.

Commissioners also are working on improvements at the county fairgrounds, he said.

"We're very busy up here and I just want to keep busy and I want to keep getting these projects done for the people," he said. "The water is the main issue."

No opponents have filed to run against Ley as of Friday morning, but one other potential candidate, Dale Wolfe, has taken out petitions, Rudd said.

County Auditor Robyn Sheets, who was appointed to her position in October following the retirement of Joan Wolfe, also has filed her petitions.

An independent candidate, Michael Lewers, has taken out petitions to run in that race, Rudd said. Independent candidates have until May 2 to file.

Republican Central Committee races also will take place this year.

April 4 is the deadline to register to vote in the May 3 primary.

ggoble@gannett.com

419-559-7263

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Crawford County Board of Elections names new deputy director