McMillen appointed to fill open Wayne commissioner seat

In a recent meeting, the Republican Central Committee appointed former Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center building trades instructor and Plain Township trustee Dave McMillen to fill the remaining unexpired Wayne County commissioner term vacated by the retirement of Sue Smail.

“I had the pleasure of working with Dave for the past 10 years. First, I saw the things he accomplished as a building trades instructor. I was impressed with the way he molded lives at the career center. The things he taught the students were amazing. They learned timber framing. They built furniture. They did remarkable things under his tutelage,” retired Wayne County auditor Jarra Underwood said. “Secondly, as a Plain Township trustee, I was impressed with his command of levies; I saw him wrestle with the issues facing township fire departments. I know the same qualities that made him a leader as a teacher and a trustee commend him as an asset to the commissioners’ office.”

When Smail announced her retirement, the commissioners were statutorily obligated to appoint someone to fill the vacancy. McMillen, running unopposed in the general election, was the obvious candidate.

While confusing, state law must be adhered to in these circumstances. Wayne County Board of Elections Director Julie Leathers-Stahl was present when the elected members of the Wayne County Republican Central Committee met on July 11 to fulfill the duty to make an appointment to ensure the proper steps were followed.

“The party has five to 45 days to make an appointment,” Stahl said. “In the meantime the commissioners make him an active commissioner so they can function as an entire commission board. We will initiate a Certificate of Appointment and send it to Columbus so he can receive his governor’s commission. Then he will be good until the term ends on Jan. 2. He is already on the November ballot.”

McMillen has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and sociology from Bluffton College and a master’s degree in education and workforce development from the Ohio State University.

“I have been a township trustee for 11 years, and I fell in love with local government,” McMillen said. “I have been a commissioner since June 1, and there is so much to learn, but I am already finding it very rewarding.”

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.