OTTAWA — A member of Putnam County’s Board of Elections resigned Tuesday so he could run for Putnam County commissioner.
Tony Wobler, 62, of Leipsic, announced his resignation at Tuesday’s Board of Elections meeting. Wobler, a Democrat, plans to run for the Jan. 2 term. Incumbent Commissioner Travis Jerwers, a Republican from Kalida, holds that seat, and Jerwers’ father, Tom Jerwers, is the chairman of the elections board.
Wobler filed his petitions Tuesday. If they’re certified, he would face the winner of the March 15 Republican primary between Travis Jerwers and Michael Lammers.
In the other commissioner race, incumbent Vince Schroeder, a Republican, faces a challenge in the primary from Carl Gerten. The deadline to file for either commissioner race is 4 p.m. Dec. 16.
Wobler spent 23 years working in public administration for the state, including work as the business and human services administrator for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 1 in Lima under the Ted Strickland administration.
“My position required making tough decisions and served as an advocate to lead others and assure accountability in their jobs,” Wobler said in a press release. “I stood up against complacency and the self-proclaimed inherent rights to management promotions from state employees. I stood up for what was the right thing to do.”
Wobler also worked evenings in his construction business, building new homes and restoring others. He’s also the current owner of Tony Wobler Electric and the New Cleveland Recreation Center. He was an adult-education instructor for several years at Vantage Career Center and helped with his family’s business, Wobler’s Gobblers.
Wobler’s son, Staff Sgt. Zachary Wobler, died in Iraq in 2005.
Wobler promised “meaningful meetings” if he’s elected commissioner. Primaries are in March, and the general election will be in November.
“I will be a person of inclusion,” Wobler said. “I will assemble subject matter experts to assist with decisions that involve technical matters. I will hold meaningful meetings whenever there may be an adverse effect on any specific group of people.”
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