Oluic Announces 2026 Commissioner Campaign
Steve Oluic, current chair of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, recently announced his bid for a commissioner seat next year.
Steve Oluic, current chair of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, recently announced his bid for a commissioner seat next year.
Citing government infighting and squandering of resources as the main reasons for running for election, Oluic will challenge Geauga County Commissioner Jim Dvorak for his seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, according to a May 14 press release.
Prior to his tenure on the mental health board, Oluic served five years as director of the Geauga County Department of Water Resources, the release said.
“His goal is to serve the citizens of Geauga County with effective and common-sense leadership and decision-making,” the release said. “He clearly understands servant leadership and is a compassionate conservative.”
While Oluic has resided in Geauga since 2010, he grew up on the near west side of Cleveland, and is an alumni of J. F. Rhodes Public High School and Case Western Reserve University, according to the release.
Oluic was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers and entered active military service. He also obtained a Master of Science degree from the University of Cincinnati and a doctorate from Kent State University during that time, according to the release.
Oluic served for 27 years, retiring from the army in 2010 as a lieutenant colonel, according to the release. He currently serves at Chardon’s American Legion #167 and Veterans of Foreign Wars #6519, and he has been both an associate professor and dean at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point and Dean of Arts & Sciences at Lakeland Community College.
“(Oluic) has made the decision and is committed to running for commissioner based on his concern about the direction of county government and the challenges he witnessed as a county employee,” the release said. “The petty infighting between county offices, gratuitous vindictiveness of officials and squandering of financial resources on outside attorneys has led to low morale among employees and directors. (Oluic) stated that he would like to establish a climate in the county that is open, treats employees and residents with dignity and respect, and creates an atmosphere that breeds success, supports initiative, and creates optimism and enthusiasm.”
Personal and political relationships are affecting decisions and creating a dysfunctional county office, the release said.
“(Oluic) can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch this continue without trying to get involved to restore trust and integrity in the office and Geauga County,” it added.
Oluic intends to fund his campaign largely on his own, but has seen a large outpouring of support.
“He will serve Geauga’s residents with purpose, vision and determination,” the release said.
