Walter “Skip” Claypool became a former county commissioner Tuesday. Mary Samide took his seat after being sworn in as a commissioner for a fourth term by Common Pleas Court Judge Forrest Burt.
Walter “Skip” Claypool became a former county commissioner Tuesday.
Mary Samide took his seat after being sworn in as a commissioner for a fourth term by Common Pleas Court Judge Forrest Burt.
“Mary had to get elected, we can’t break up the team,” said Burt, moments before he swore in Samide.
“She will continue serving Geauga County and continue doing what is right,” he said.
An emotional Samide added, “It’s like opening your first bottle of champagne to be elected and to be sworn in again.”
She thanked her supporters, including her husband, Frank Samide, and the Geauga County Republican Party for the support given her in her campaign to defeat Democrat challenger Jim Dvorak.
“I am very, very grateful. It’s a real honor,” Samide said. “It’s a difficult thing to serve and, for all those who ran and won or lost, believe me, no one will ever appreciate the efforts you put forth. It’s a lot of work.”
As commissioner, Samide fills the seat of former Commissioner Bill Young, who retired in June.
Claypool has filled the seat since mid-July, when the Geauga County Republ-ican Party’s Central Committee appointed him to fill the spot until the November election.
The committee also chose Samide — who was defeated for her seat by Spidalieri in the March primary — to run on the November ballot for Young’s seat pending the results of the Nov. 6 election.
Shortly after Young’s resignation, Secretary of State John Husted said a permanent replacement for the retired commissioner could take office as soon as election results were certified and accepted by his office.
Last week, county Administrator David Lair said Samide’s move from her seat to Young’s would leave her chair empty until Spidalieri takes office Jan. 3.
On Tuesday, however, county Commissioner Tracy Jemison confirmed Spidalieri has been asked if he wants to take office sooner.
This would allow him to sit in as commissioner for the last five scheduled meetings of 2012 rather than begin Jan. 3, Jemison said.
Spidalieri is expected to meet with him on Thursday to announce his decision, he added.
Normally, the GOP’s Central Committee would fill an elected vacancy-in-office no sooner than five days or no more than 45 days after the vacancy occurs.
“But that 45 days would be after (Spidalieri) would take office anyway, so the central committee doesn’t have to do anything, which means they (Samide and Jemison) could appoint him until his normal term starts in January,” Lair said last week.
Differences between Samide and Spidalieri arose during the GOP Central Committee’s July nominating meeting, when Spidalieri questioned the wisdom of considering her as a candidate.
During that meeting, Spidalieri cited “public dis-trust” caused by the GOP Central Committee’s selection process in choosing Samide to run for Young’s seat.
He predicted possible voter backlash, saying Democrats could be elected to county offices if Samide was chosen as a candidate to replace Young.
None were, except for Democrat incumbent Sheriff Dan McClelland.
Last Thursday, Samide said she and Spidalieri have resolved differences between them.
When contacted last Thursday, Spidalieri, the owner of several Great Lake Outdoor Supply stores, he believes it is his responsibility to the taxpayers to work cooperatively with his fellow commissioners.
“But it’s not me necessarily working with her (Samide) as much as me working for taxpayers — county residents,” Spidalieri said. “I don’t hold any grudge. She has experience I can learn from, but I feel I bring a new perspective from taxpayers who are interested in seeing changes. I hope she understands that.”
Samide said she had considered being sworn in on Monday — the day she received the necessary paperwork from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office required for her to take office.
Instead, she chose to wait until Tuesday to give Claypool one last opportunity to serve as a commissioner.
Claypool said he plans to continue to attend commissioners’ meetings as an audience member.
In doing so, he said he is likely to be among those who might question commissioners’ decisions, something he frequently did before he was chosen to temporarily fill Young’s seat.
“I will continue to be involved. There are things I think need to continue to be watched, addressed and talked about,” Claypool said. “I appreciate everybody here who has made this experience a better one. It could have gone differently, but it didn’t.”
Claypool’s efforts as a temporary commissioner were noted by Burt and also drew applause from more than 20 people who had gathered for the oath of office ceremonies.
He has promised to provide Samide and Jemison with a written report containing his observations and recommendations on county government.
At the close of Thursday’s commissioners meeting, Claypool thanked them and the commissioners’ staff for their help and professionalism.
“The experience has really been a very good one,” he said. “I have learned some things that were very eye opening. That only difference you will see is which side of the table I am sitting on.
