Steve Oluic defeated incumbent Jim Dvorak for a seat on the Geauga County Commissioners board May 5, receiving 6,790 votes to Dvorak’s 5,620, according to the final, unofficial results of the Geauga County Board of Elections.
Steve Oluic defeated incumbent Jim Dvorak for a seat on the Geauga County Commissioners board May 5, receiving 6,790 votes to Dvorak’s 5,620, according to the final, unofficial results of the Geauga County Board of Elections.
The race proved contentious, with Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri publicly endorsing Oluic over his fellow board member, while Commissioner Carolyn Brakey also openly criticized Oluic and his past work with the Geauga County Department of Water Resources, among other items, saying the county could not afford to elect him.
When reached after the race, Oluic said he was still processing the outcome.
“I’ve been out for the last three and a half hours pulling signs,” he said. “I’m still soaking wet from doing that. I wasn’t really following the race until about a half hour ago I started getting phone calls.”
Oluic, 65, is a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Army. He previously served as director of the Geauga County Department of Water Resources and currently chairs the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services.
When he announced his candidacy, Oluic cited government infighting and the squandering of resources, running on the motto, “No more status quo.”
Oluic thanked his supporters, said his message resonated with voters and congratulated Dvorak on his two terms in office.
“I think the county has decided to make quite a different turn and would like to see some change,” he said. “I hope to bring that in concert with my colleagues because there’s room for improvement in the county. We can make that happen.”
Oluic also said he believed comments made against him during the race had backfired on his opponent.
“Americans are tired of that,” he said. “Americans are tired of name-calling and innuendo and implying that someone’s not a good person when, in fact, they are.”
Regarding potential tensions on the board, Oluic said he believes it is up to Brakey to apologize.
“My role is the business of the people in Geauga County first and foremost,” he said. “Personality differences are secondary. I like telling people in the military, I didn’t get along with all my peers or my bosses, but we always had a mission and that drove everything. Personalities were always secondary. We need to bring that attitude to government service on the civilian side.”
The voter always knows, he added.
Dvorak, contacted after the race, acknowledged his defeat.
“My opponent got more votes than I did and that’s the end of the story,” he said. “I’ll be retiring on Dec. 31. No animosity on my part.”
Dvorak said he has not decided whether he will step away from politics entirely.
“I’m just gonna take a breath of fresh air and spend more time with my family,” he said.
