Two candidates seeking the appointment to Seneca County Sheriff and one candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives spoke to members of the Republican Central Committee during their luncheon Wednesday.
Seneca County Sheriff Tom Steyer announced in November he is resigning in January from the position he has held for nine years. Seneca County commissioners are to make a temporary appointment, followed by an appointment from the Republican Central Committee.
Capt. Bill Eckelberry of the Seneca County Sheriff's Office and Attica Police Chief Jeff Briggs spoke at the luncheon to ask members for their support.
"I feel I'm the best candidate for the job," Eckelberry, who oversees some operations in dispatch and for deputies, said.
"I've been there 28 years and I know the ins and outs of the department."
He said he wants to put more deputies on the road and hire another detective to reduce the workload for current detectives.
Eckelberry also has the support of Steyer.
"I've been working with Bill Eckelberry for nine years and I think he'd be very good as sheriff," Steyer said.
Steyer said he wants to see a "smooth transition" in the office, and believes Eckelberry can provide that for the county.
Seneca County Commissioner Dave Sauber spoke about Steyer and Eckelberry.
Sauber thanked Steyer for his service to Seneca County and his cooperation with commissioners.
He said he is considering Eckelberry for the appointment based on Steyer's recommendation, but could not speak for other commissioners.
Briggs followed Eckelberry.
"I have a vision for the Seneca County Sheriff's office," Briggs said. "I want to give a new level of trust and confidence in the services that the office provides."
Briggs lost to Steyer in the March 2008 primary.
"I think I've proven to the people in Seneca County that I'm electable, and that's important," Briggs said.
Briggs has 23 years experience in law enforcement and 15 years as police chief in Attica.
"I want the job, I want to do the job, and, with no disrespect to Bill, but I think I'm the best for the job," Briggs said.
Charles Knight, Seneca County Republican Central Committee chairman, was not at the meeting, but said the county has "two excellent candidates."
David Koehl, Seneca County Republican Executive Committee chairman, said the committee is still accepting applications. Interested parties should send a letter to committee secretary Cora Bour, P.O. Box 93, McCutchenville.
Knight and Koehl said the committee has not set a date to name Steyer's replacement.
State representative hopeful Rex Damschroder also spoke to committee members. Damschroder served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
"Some people ask why I want to run again for state representative. Well, I never wanted to leave," Damschroder said.
Damschroder spoke about fiscal responsibility, and said it was his goal to vote and spend conservatively if he is elected.
"We have to be careful as a nation not to go so far into debt," Damschroder said. "Every time we go further in debt, we lose our freedom. I think we need to require that we live within our means."
Knight also commented on Damschroder.
"Rex is a good man," Knight said. "He has a lot of experience and believes in fiscal responsibility and will do a good job for us in Columbus."
