2024 Huron County Republican Primary candidates

No bio at this time.

I am a Republican candidate for State Representative for Ohio’s 54th House district. This will include all of Huron county, excluding Lyme and Wakeman townships, and all of Western and Southern Lorain County. These newly described district lines are due to the redistricting done last fall.
Background: I have a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. I have been a healthcare provider for 28 years, practicing as a Nurse Anesthetist and a Nurse Practitioner. I have also been a small business owner for the past 15 years owning Firelands Anesthesia. I have served as the Director of Government Relations for the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists for the past decade working with the legislature on improving health policy. Through that experience I gained a deep understanding of the legislative process and how to navigate the intricacies of policymaking. 

My primary motivation for running is to serve and give back to my community; to protect our Constitutional rights; and to continue to shepherd conservative policies to address our state’s pressing issues emphasizing fiscal discipline, limited government, the lowest possible taxes, prudent spending, a balanced budget, and transparency.

Two areas that I am particularly passionate about are healthcare and agriculture. Our district relies heavily on both. I desperately want to decrease the cost of healthcare for employers and patients, and decrease health spending. I am also eager to look at our tax system to see how we can modify it, including possibly eliminating state income and/or modifying the levying of property taxes. I look forward to the opportunity to represent Ohio 54th house district and would be honored to earn your vote. Reach out to me at Kelliedeeter.com using the email link on that website.

No bio at this time.

No bio at this time.

As our State Representative, DJ has been a fierce advocate for our area and our values. He considers it an honor and privilege to serve his constituents. He has a proven record protecting this region’s great asset – Lake Erie. He has opposed offshore wind projects, while promoting the H2Ohio funding that will support farmers and minimize algal blooms. He has collaborated with district stakeholders on the causes and solutions to the Lake's harmful algal blooms.

DJ believes in true American independence and that we need to make more things in America. DJ believes that supply chains need to move back to the United States, and he has advocated for those jobs to be located in the 89th House District. He is a staunch supporter of American energy independence. By fighting for energy independence, the cost of energy can be lowered and good jobs can be created and maintained. 

I sold my tax and accounting practice in September of 2022 providing me additional time to be more active in the community.  I have performed the duties required of a county commissioner in the various businesses and organizations that I have been involved in over the past 40 years. The position of county commissioner provides an ideal opportunity for me to give back to the community.

I am a CPA, Financial Professional and Accredited Investment Fiduciary with Bachelor of Art Degrees in Finance, Management and Accounting from Walsh University.

Among the various organizations I have been involved are 12 years on the Board of Directors of the Firelands Federal Credit Union, 29 years on the

Whitney Field Improvement Committee and 12 years coaching track and cross country athletes from 4 of the schools within our county.

As I have traveled around meeting residents of Huron County, the issues vary from township to township.  As commissioner, I will listen to the concerns of the residents, identify any problems and determine a reasonable solution.  Most issues can be resolved through good communication.

I will use my knowledge and experience to optimize the use of our county properties.  I believe an equitable solution can be negotiated to provide the Norwalk schools the land that is needed for a new facility as well as the county maintaining adequate property for future growth and expansion.

The drug, suicide and mental health issues facing our county will continue to need to be addressed.  These issues will obviously require a collaborative effort with several departments, organizations and agencies.

In addition, I will also work to promote economic development.

I believe an open line of communication is essential for me to be perform my duties as Huron County Commissioner and to fulfill the needs of Huron County.  My phone number is 567-805-1268.  Finally, I believe that together we can make Huron County strong.

Experience &  Party Loyalty is the most important aspect of this Primary Election!!!

I would like to give you my experience;

I served as Huron County Commissioner from 2013-2017.  It was an office term that I was proud of, I was especially happy to serve with Commissioners Gary Bauer and Joe Hintz. We all had the same theme in mind and that was to do what was right and just for Huron County and keep the county budget on point.  I believe in the 4 years we all served together there were only a few  times when we did not all vote together.  It truly was a great working relationship!  I want to incorporate that level of a working relationship with the next Board of Commissioners.

While on the Board I acted as the President,  & Vice President of HCC

I was elected President of the NE Ohio County Commissioners Association in 2016. It was an honor to be elected by the other 16 NE County Boards of Commissioners to serve as their President.

I had the opportunity through my 40 years in Law Enforcement to be elected HC Sheriff in the 1980’s.  At that time, was the youngest Sheriff in the State of Ohio. During my time in LE I have handled it all, Budgets, Managing Personnel, Double Homicides, Homicides, Robberies, Educating New Officers, & even Barking Dog complaints.  

I am running for Huron County Commissioner and if elected plan to maintain this position for several years. I am proud to say that I was born, raised and have been a resident of Huron County my entire life.

Huron County is a great area to live, work, worship, prosper and raise a family. My goal as a County Commissioner is to ensure that Huron County remains a safe, stable and beautiful community for the next generation(s) to come.

As a business owner in Huron County for 40+ years, my success has been heavily dependent on the residents and other businesses within the area for their continued support, opportunities and trust in serving their needs. I have had the pleasure of serving as Norwalk Township Trustee and Huron County Fair Board Director for several years. The next logical step is County Commissioner, where as commissioner I will incorporate the experiences and knowledge gained throughout my professional career to benefit Huron County and support the other residents and organizations in their quest for success.

While Huron County is unique and contains a variety of positive attributes, our county is experiencing many of the same hardships as other areas within our region, state and country. The economy is continually evolving and there is much that can be said regarding inflation, general cost of living and increased costs of doing business. It will take cooperation from all county agencies to ensure Huron County remains a great community and continually improves. 

As commissioner I will strongly represent the hard working men and women of Huron County which contribute to the betterment of our area and general society. Other key objectives include ensuring our education systems remains strong for our youth and drawing new businesses into our beautiful and strong community.

Danielle Smith  is one of five candidates for Bruce “Skip” Wilde’s open commissioner seat commencing January 2, 2025. Danielle is the daughter of Charles F Sr and Diane E Love, and grew up in Wakeman, Ohio. She was taught at an early age to go after what you want in life. She graduated from Western Reserve High School in the class of 1986, and married her husband Dennis in 1988.

 Danielle worked full-time in procurement and management roles while also attending college part time and raising two boys, Joe and Cori. She received an associate degree in Business Management Technology from Stark State College of Technology in 1998, and a bachelor in Business Administration from Walsh University in 2003. She is the owner and operator of

D & D Smith Winery in Norwalk with her husband since 2008, and founder and president of a nonprofit called WHY ME to educate on ways to reduce cancer risk and support those receiving treatments.  Danielle has also been serving the local community through her second term as a member of the Monroeville Board of Education and working as an election official since 2019.

 Danielle has been asked her stance on several issues.  Whatever decision Danielle makes, she makes it with integrity, weighing the pros and cons with factual data from all points of view.   She believes this will result in a position that is the best choice for our county. She promotes growth and development, health and wellbeing, is open and honest, and is a great listener who will advocate for you.  This is reflected in her motto: “Do the best you can do today, then do better tomorrow,” If you don’t know Danielle, you’ll find out she’s a first-time grandma, an openly social person, and does not back down from life’s challenges. Danielle would be honored to represent you as commissioner of Huron county!

No bio at this time.

No bio at this time.

To me being a commissioner would be an honor, given to me by the people in Huron county who elect me to run their county with the dedication, commitment, and backbone to make the right decisions and to make the hard decisions when needed. I am not a politician by any means, but I am here for the people in all of Huron county not just for the big guys, I’m here for even the small guys who need some help in his or her small town. I am dedicated to helping all communities in Huron county no matter how big or small you may think it is, I will listen, and I will do my best to make a change for the better in our county.
I want the people to know that I am not a yes man I will do my due diligence and research before making any decisions that has to do with our taxpayers’ money. I also want the people to know that I’m a Christian man driven by God to make this a Stronger more diverse county by using our resources in our
county like the economic development committee to help small business thrive and to help find property for housing, I also will utilize the new Norwalk County Growth Partnership which consists of the Huron county development Council, Norwalk Economic development Corporation and the Huron
county chamber of commerce. These three together will be able to help with redevelopment of our communities using Land banks and incentives which in turn will create housing for people in need, Business Retention and Expansions, and Population Retention & growth like housing, relocation support, and welcoming people to the community. This is key to helping our communities grow and to helping the people that are already in Huron county who need help!

Brad Mesenburg is a dedicated public servant and community leader, proud to call Huron County his lifelong home. Born and raised in Collins, he has deep roots in the area and a strong commitment to its prosperity. A 2001 graduate of Norwalk St. Paul, Brad pursued higher education at Bowling Green State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. In 2019, Brad was elected as Townsend Township’s fiscal officer, a position he has since held with integrity and diligence. His effective leadership and financial acumen led to his re-election in 2023, demonstrating the trust and confidence the community places in him. In addition to his role in Townsend Township, Brad has served as the fiscal officer of the Vermilion River Ambulance District since 2013, further showcasing his dedication to public service and responsible fiscal management. Outside of his public service commitments, Brad is also Vice President of Mesenburg Bros., a business founded by his grandfather Pete and great uncle George. As a key member of the family business, Brad continues the legacy of hard work and dedication that has been passed down through generations. Brad is a loving husband to his wife Leslie, and together they are proud parents of three children. Family values are at the core of Brad's identity, and he strives to instill those values in both his personal and professional life. With a strong foundation in his community, a commitment to public service, and a passion for fostering growth and prosperity, Brad Mesenburg is a respected leader making a positive impact in Huron County and beyond.

Gina Hartman graduated in 1995 from Ohio Dominican University with a BA in Business Administration and looks to continue earning education credits through the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association.  She has many professional business connections through her past work in this area. As Clerk, her efforts to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and enhance relationships between the county offices will be her primary goals in this position.

Jan has served the citizens of Huron County as County Recorder since 2013. Some of her many duties include recording and maintaining copies of documents of property located in Huron County, overseeing the back scanning and microfilming of records for county offices, and
serving as secretary for the county records commission.
As Recorder Jan has seen the implementation of new recording software which improved the search for property records in the electronic data base. All of the indexing information, including all deed records back to 1809 is now accessible online. Images of deed records back to 1850 are available on terminals in the office. Jan hopes to complete a redaction process this
year to make the images available online.
With the fears of property fraud increasing the Recorder’s office provides Huron County property owners with a free fraud notification service called “Alert Me.” This is available on the Recorder’s website: https://huronrecorder.org/ Jan enjoys nature and the preservation of green space for recreation. She is a trustee and volunteer for Firelands Rails to Trails, Inc., a board member for the Dalton Park Preserve in Wakeman twp., and chair of Wakeman Village park and recreation committee. Jan also serves as Vice President on the Huron County Community Library board of trustees.
Jan is married to Kenneth Tkach and has lived in Wakeman since 1978. They have four children and 5 grandchildren. Jan is a member of Norwalk Kiwanis, Huron County Republican Women’s Club, and Camden Baptist Church in Wellington, OH.