COLUMBUS — As a county commissioner for 27 years Steve Arndt has dealt with decisions made at the Statehouse affecting local governments.
Beginning Wednesday, he’ll be among those making those decisions when he’s sworn into the Ohio House to represent Ottawa and Erie counties in the 89th District.
“As a locally elected official, I’ve testified before the appropriate committees to help them understand how their legislative acts play in our local communities,” Mr. Arndt said. “I’ve been preparing for this for 36 years, so I’m certain I know where things can be improved and changed when it comes to considering legislation that affects residents back home.”
A screening committee unanimously recommended him to fill the vacancy created when Rep. Steve Kraus, a Sandusky Realtor and auctioneer, was automatically ousted in July from the seat he’d been elected to just months earlier.
Kraus was convicted of felony theft by an Ottawa County jury after he took antiques from a vacant home without the owner’s permission. He is appealing the verdict.
Mr. Arndt, 61, has more than a year left in his four-year term as county commissioner. He previously served nine years on Elmore Village Council and has owned and operated small businesses since 1976, including Ohio Industrial Gear and Drive Components.
He was selected from a list of 14 applicants for the House seat that included a few other high-profile names in local politics — former state Rep. Tom Lendrum, of Huron; Sandusky Board of Education President Jeff Krabill; Berlin Township trustee and former Erie County GOP Chairman Matt Old; and Perkins Township Trustee Timothy Coleman, Perkins Township.
“I believe [Mr. Arndt’s] lifelong commitment to public service and to Ottawa County will be an asset to the Ohio House and the 89th district,” said Rep. Kirk Schuring (R., Canton), chairman of the screening committee.
Among the considerations by the caucus was how well it believes Mr. Arndt can do in holding on to the seat.
He could find himself facing former state Rep. Chris Redfern, the former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, who is considering a return to state politics. Kraus narrowly defeated him last year.
Also throwing their names into the ring were Daniel Frederick, Milan Township trustee; Tina Dupont, of Oak Harbor; JulieAnn Frias, of Curtice, from the Allen Township Zoning Office; Nathaniel Nuesse (Deemer), Berlin Heights, painter active in the Ohio Army National Guard; Kevin Scarpino, of Port Clinton, range operations specialist at Camp Perry Joint Training Center; Paul Schoenegge, retired high school teacher from Castalia and member of the Margaretta Board of Education; Donna Glisman of Sandusky, manager of a Put-in-Bay cab company; Pat Mancinetti, a Sandusky criminal defense attorney, and Steve Serraino, a Genoa attorney.
Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.
First Published September 29, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
