Hearing from the Holmes Co. commissioner candidates

Two seats on the Holmes County commissioner board are up for grabs during the May 19 primary, and during the recent Meet the Candidates forum, seven candidates had a chance to express their thoughts to the public.

Current commissioner Joe Miller went directly to his bread and butter, rolling out a list of accomplishments that have taken place during his tenure. He pointed to a successful economy and financial stability in the county government, increasing sales tax, the closing of the landfill and the creation of green space there, and the new health department building as some of the highlights.

“Holmes County is stronger financially than it has ever been,” Miller said. “All of our elected officials and department heads have been well-funded to provide service to the people of Holmes County, and business continues to expand and there are jobs, jobs, jobs.”

Miller also said he was a full-time commissioner because that is what it takes to do the job properly.

“People often ask me what I will do if reelected,” Miller said. “I just tell them I will continue to do the exact same thing we are doing now.”

Ervin Yoder has been a longtime member of Holmes Fire District #1, and he said everything he has done in his life has geared him up for this moment.

Yoder is a lifetime Holmes Countian, and his accomplishments include being certified with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, serving as security at the courthouse and becoming a township trustee for Mechanic Township in 2017. He said his first goal was to improve the maintenance program, and he helped build a township building, apply for grants and worked with ODOT.

“When I became trustee, I was able to get on the fire board at District #1 and got a $37,000 grant for the exhaust system at the firehouse,” Yoder said.

He said continuing to keep both the agricultural and tourism communities in Holmes County is critical, and he would work hard with communities and townships to keep both industries vital.

Dave Crilow rolled out a list of accomplishment as a lifetime Holmes Countian.

Crilow served as a director of maintenance at Pomerene Hospital in 1984, where he helped direct the renovation of the hospital, and he became a township trustee in Hardy Township, a role he assumed for 32 years.

“During that time we purchased land, we built an equipment building, we built a salt bin and maintained the roads,” Crilow said. “We’re the only township in Holmes County out of 14 that does not have a road operating levy. We spent taxpayers’ money wisely.”

In addition, Crilow has been a member of the Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities in maintenance, also working in nutrition. He also has served 45 years as a firefighter and EMT. He has been a hunter/safety instructor for the county and is the county representative to American Red Cross, where he spearheads the Sound the Alarm smoke detector campaign.

“If elected, the only thing I can promise is that I will be there for you and work for you,” Crilow said.

Holley Johnson created Holmes Center for the Arts, a blossoming nonprofit that now serves more than 600 students per year.

She said her goal through the HCA was to strive for it to reflect the community.

She said her role as executive director has prepared her for the commissioner position.

“I have created budgets and secession plans. I have found funding and applied for grants. I have lobbied at the state level to promote the arts to help fund Holmes County,” Johnson said. “I have never stopped climbing to make sure we didn’t finish what we started at the arts center.”

Johnson also has been part of the group currently working on finding grant funding through Ohio’s Appalachian grants, which revolve around ecotourism, parks, downtown improvements and transportation issues.

“This is one of the last best places to live on Earth, and I want to help protect that and build on it so we are exporting our ideals and serving as a model for what good government, hard work and personal responsibility can bring to a community.”

After serving overseas in the Air Force for four years, Steve Johnson returned to Holmes County, where he drove truck for several years. A near-fatal accident sent Johnson to the hospital, and following that, he said he came to know God in a personal way, which changed the way he approached life.

After attending Bible college, he became an intern for U.S. Congressman Steve Chabot, which set him on his arc to explore life in politics.

He ran for state representative and would then go on to run for state representative in 2016, where he lost a tight battle. When Eyler’s seat came open, he felt it was his calling.

“I wanted to get more local, and I wanted to come to this seat as a commissioner to help preserve our culture,” Johnson said. “I’m running for commissioner to promote economic activity, to preserve our culture and prepare for the future. More government is not the solution. God is.”

Dustin Kaufman spelled out his platform for the commissioner’s seat in simple terms, noting his motto from the start has been pro-business, pro-safety, pro-family.

“Pro-family is at the bottom of that list, not because it is the least important, but because it is the foundation of who we are as Holmes Countians,” Kaufman said. “It is what separates us from the rest of Ohio and from the nation.”

He said as commissioner his goal would be to support and strengthen area families by prioritizing economic growth.

“With a strong economy, we not only ensure that we live prosperous lives now, but if done correctly, we set up our children and our children’s children to be successful in the future,” Kaufman said.

He said he would push hard to make sure the county’s 9-1-1 system, local law enforcement and courts receive the necessary budgeting from the county to continue to do their critical work.

Eric Strouse has been a longtime member of the West Holmes School Board, the agricultural community, the Farm Credit Bureau, Killbuck Savings Bank and Commercial & Savings Bank as an agricultural/business loan officer for four decades. He retired from CSB as vice president of agricultural and business lending, and during his years, he has worked closely with the Holmes County 4-H programs in the swine arena.

In addition, he has been a member of the board of Habitat for Humanity Holmes County for 25 years, noting he was especially proud of what they’ve accomplished through Habitat in the county.

“Being a commissioner will be my full-time job,” Strouse said.

As a 24-year member of the WH School Board, Strouse said he has been a champion for education and will continue to do so.

“I’ve always lived in Holmes County, and I seek to serve,” Strouse said. “I have seen the struggles, triumphs and potential that exist within Holmes County, and I’m dedicated to Holmes County.”

He said his platform is built on prosperity and sustainability that will come through economic growth that will champion Holmes County’s way of life.