McArthur, Claypool Vying for County Commissioner Seats
Nancy McArthur and Walter “Skip” Claypool will each be vying for a Geauga County commissioner’s seat after recently filing to enter the 2024 general election.
Nancy McArthur and Walter “Skip” Claypool will each be vying for a Geauga County commissioner’s seat after recently filing to enter the 2024 general election.
McArthur will be running against incumbent Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri and Claypool will be running against candidate Carolyn Brakey for Commissioner Tim Lennon’s vacant seat after he recently announced he will not be seeking a third term.
McArthur
“I’m running for county commissioner because I believe our county should be put first,” McArthur said in an interview Jan. 1. “First in leadership, transparency, responsiveness, collaboration, priority, attention and first for our residents. Geauga County is first in my heart.”
McArthur, a 27-year Chardon resident, has served in public office for over 12 years as a member of Chardon City Council, two years as Chardon mayor and has chaired finance, legislative and economic development committees.
“The past year, I have served as a board member for the (Geauga County) Board of Elections and have worked well with my peers in order to bring about fair elections and uphold Ohio election laws,” McArthur said. “I am proud of my track record as a public servant and will put to practice my many years of experience in the commissioners’ office if voters give me the opportunity to serve in that role.”
McArthur said the county deserves to have leaders in the commissioners’ office who not only believe in these principles, but practice them daily.
“I will put Geauga first. If elected, I will also motion the board to begin streaming their meetings to more conveniently give residents access to information and county decision-making. I’d also like to have some evening meetings throughout the county to hear from residents,” McArthur said.
She added she would like a public comment section to be listed on the commissioners’ meeting agendas.
“I get their agendas and I don’t see anything on the agenda that specifically gives the public the ability to speak. I would like to see on the agenda a specific item that is always allowing for public comment. It doesn’t have to be limited to agenda items. It could be anything,” McArthur said. “I also promise to respectively work with our other elected officials to create a positive environment for all who live and work here.”
Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri said Dec. 2 the commissioners do take public comments and make the public a part of their discussions.
“I made the determination as chairman of the board that we are going to take public comments and we have been taking them since,” Spidalieri said.
Claypool
Claypool, a 20-year Chester Township resident, served as county commissioner from 2014 to 2018 and lost his reelection to challenger Jim Dvorak in 2022.
He is a member of the Geauga County Tea Party, Geauga County Planning Commission and Geauga County Republican Party Central Committee, and is a former member of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services and a former Chester Township trustee.
“I think I’m the most experienced and most knowledgeable about what goes on and so forth,” Claypool said in interview Dec. 28. “I can walk into the position and be ready day one.”
Claypool said he would like to continue some of the good work that has been started in Geauga County.
“I started the plan for the county buildings and they didn’t go in the direction that I was hoping. I’d like to get that back on track and finish the plan up,” Claypool said, adding he would also like to review the plans for the Geauga County Courthouse.
“Just get the county back into shape, so that we’re fiscally sound,” he said.
Claypool believes there’s an opportunity to return some cash to the constituents in Geauga County.
“I want to get in and review all of the financial situation and see what we can do to make adjustments for the benefit of everybody in Geauga County,” Claypool said. “Then, just continue most of what is done in the commissioners’ office, administrative routine stuff, making sure that departments are funded, everything’s working smoothly and that there’s no hiccups.”
Claypool said he’d like to do something formally regarding the creation of a metropolitan planning organization and leaving the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency.
“I’ve already done homework on that. I’m very familiar, the most familiar guy in the county, as far as who NOACA is and what they are all about. I would like to do something formally in terms of doing an assessment on what our options are,” Claypool said. “Based on all my preliminary research, we are much better off if we formed a MPO with Lake County than we are with NOACA.”
Claypool said NOACA is not the only organization in Ohio he believes is attempting to change rural communities.
“There’s this senate state select committee on fair housing going on right now,” he said. “Where they’re going would not be a positive direction for Geauga County, so I want to take a look at what we have to do to put up a firewall to make sure we are not harmed by some of that activity down in Columbus.”
Claypool said he’s looking forward to a positive outcome in the election and the opportunity to serve the county.
“I’ve never stopped serving people, whether I’m elected or not elected, I’m just looking forward to being in a position of influence where I can make some of these things happen more easily,” Claypool said.
