Holly Stacy carried on her family legacy Wednesday afternoon when she was sworn in as county commissioner at the Seneca County Museum.
Stacy, who will begin her term as commissioner Jan. 2, is following the footsteps of her father-in-law, Dale Stacy, who served as a county commissioner from 1966-1982, and her husband's grandfather, Clyde Stacy, who served as a commissioner from 1946-1956.
Tonia Hoffert, director of Sencea County Museum, said the museum also has some ties to the Stacy name.
Article Photos
PHOTO BY ZACH GASE
Holly Stacy (center) is sworn in as Seneca County commissioners by Tiffin Municipal Court Judge Mark Repp Wednesday. Accompanying Stacy were (from left) her son Dean, her husband Douglas and her daughter Diana.
"We were kind of honored when (Stacy) called and asked if she could be sworn in here," Hoffert said. "The Stacy name is on the front of the building when the county museum was formed in 1942, when it moved here. And Dale's (Stacy) name is on the addition in the back room. I think family tradition just keeps going on and on. We're honored to have (Stacy), and I'm looking forward to (her) becoming a commissioner."Stacy said she is excited and anxious to get started.
"It's been a long process getting to this point," she said. "There's so much that you go through. You go to a certain depth of preparing for a campaign. First seeking out what that position is, then seeking out to apply and then going through the campaign. And now it just goes even deeper. There's just so much more to learn. I'm ready to dive in."
In preparation, Stacy and fellow commissioner-elect Fred Zoeller attended the County Commissioners Association of Ohio annual fall/winter conference.
"It's a non-ending thing," she said. "There's always more to learn."
Stacy said she also has prepared for the position by attending commissioners meetings and budget commission meetings, and she said she has spoken to commissioner Jeff Wagner on the phone a few times.
She said she suspects the first long-term goal she will face during her term will be budget issues.
"Fiscal responsibility is going to be a standing goal," she said. "But to see if we can make an impact on economic development, that is just not an easy process. It's not an overnight kind of thing."
She said she is excited to work with the city, the county, people in economic development and Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Services to help attract business to the county.
"It takes a while to get results from those things, so I'm sure there's ongoing efforts," Stacy said. "I just want to be able to jump right in and be a part of those efforts and to keep pushing them forward. That's the only way we're going to make a significant difference in our tax base here, is to bring some more jobs."
