Sutter, Roman Clinch Health Board Seats

March 20, 2025 by Allison Wilson

Faces old and new will appear on the Geauga County Board of Health at its next meeting, with the Health District Advisory Council appointing former member Lynn Roman to a two-year term and new member Christine Sutter to a five-year term March 12.

While HDAC’s screening committee recommended appointing Roman and Sutter, votes were also cast for candidates Matt Brakey and Rich Dietke, the only contenders with no experience in the medical field.

Prior to the vote, candidates were allowed six minutes to speak, after which the board could ask questions. Candidates were also interviewed the week before the meeting.

During her time at the podium, Roman rehashed her experience in the healthcare industry and explained her reason for running again.

She has a commitment to community service and her previous experience on the health board gives her the ability to jump back in without a learning curve, which is important for a two-year term, Roman said.

Roman also spoke in favor of the Lake-Geauga Cooperative Agreement, which had a notably rough inception when the board approved it during the same meeting a majority of Geauga Public Health staff were terminated.

Roman’s first full-time job was as a public health educator. She also held positions at all three major hospital systems in Cleveland, where she gained management experience and was accountable for millions of dollars.

The health department needs to focus on public health initiatives and continue to provide vaccines and care to underserved and Amish populations, she said.

“I have a great deal of concern over the Kennedy administration and whether or not there will be public health in the future,” she added, referring to the appointment of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.

The department needs to brace for changes to grants and funding under the new administration, she said.

The health department’s levy is also over 20 years old and the board needs to consider a new one, she added.

Sutter, a nurse manager and OBGYN, noted her background in women’s health, adding she oversees 45 staff members. She also served on a number of committees to improve healthcare outcomes, and reviews policies, guidelines and deals with budgets.

Sutter said she is proactive in educating the public and talks with schools on a number of topics. A proponent of education, Sutter promotes new nurses coming in for internships and practicums, and said she wants to see higher enrollment at facilities like Lakeland Community College.

Sutter has also worked at an Amish birthing center, as well as the Amish vaccine clinic. In other healthcare outreach, she said she has assisted in the opening of an outpatient lactation clinic.

“I have a strong passion for improving community health and wellbeing,” she said. “I would love to be part of the decision-making body that can positively impact healthcare policies and services for all individuals.”

Members of the public expressed a mix of reactions to the candidate lineup, with resident Mary Briggs noting her apprehension at Roman being on the board when the Lake-Geauga agreement was signed, and Brakey being the husband of a board member at the time.

Meanwhile, former Aquilla Village Council member Chris Alusheff said there would be multiple good choices and that it was nice as a member of the public to not have to lobby for a decision.

Roman secured her seat 13-5, while Sutter won 12-4 with one abstention from chair Jason Sutter, her husband.

Sutter expressed her excitement in a statement March 14.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the health and well-being of our community, and I’m eager to collaborate with the team to address important health challenges,” she said. “I look forward to making a positive impact and working towards a healthier future for everyone.”

Roman declined further comment, saying she had been voted in and would therefore serve her community.