How well do you know your Commissioner candidates? Would you like to know them better?
The Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Services is inviting the community to Camden Falls for just this reason. On Tuesday, March 8 at 7:30am, join the Chamber and candidates Chris English, Rich Focht, Holly Stacy, and Shayne Thomas for breakfast, presentations, and a Q&A. Each candidate will give a 5 minute presentation, after which the floor will be open to the public to ask what questions they may have. The Chamber requests that interested community members RSVP and submit their questions by Tuesday, March 1 to info@tiffinchamber.com. Breakfast will be available at a cost of $10.
Chris English
English has long served the community in addition to his 40 year career with Webster Industries. After graduating Tiffin University with a bachelor's degree and a State of Ohio Accounting License (CPA-inactive), English served on a multitude of boards, such as the YMCA, Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce and SIEDC, First Lutheran Church Council, Tiffin Mercy Hospital (10 years), Tiffin City Schools Board of Education (12 years, 5 as president), Tiffin-Seneca Public Library (10 years), as well as charitable boards in the area, and is a past-exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge #94.
Rich Focht
With a career in public service spanning more than two decades, Focht understands the importance of community involvement and investment in infrastructure. After serving in the Army for two years, he returned to work alongside his father as a general contractor. In 1988, he sold the business and became a city administrator before becoming president and CEO of the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) in 1990, where he stayed until retiring in 2013. He currently serves on the Tiffin City Council. Focht is motivated by a desire to serve all of Seneca County and not just Tiffin alone.
Holly Stacy
Stacy is currently the president of the Seneca County Commissioners. If re-elected, Stacy hopes to focus on fiscal responsibility through a new budget and creating a business-friendly environment to help provide job growth. Stacy served as president and CEO of the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce from 2003 to 2012. She has a master's degree in business administration from Tiffin University and a bachelor's of science degree from the Ohio State University.
Shayne Thomas
Thomas has a strong financial background, spanning 25 years. His career history includes working for various banks, such as Fifth Third, National City, and the First Bank of Ohio from 1990-1999. In 1999, he began work for the Old Fort Banking Company as vice president of Commercial Banking. From 2007-2013, Thomas served as the vice president of Business Development for MGQ Incorporated, and co-founded the MGQ Terminal in Tiffin in 2009 before divesting in 2015. Thomas began to run for the Commissioners board in 2014, but left the race early to pursue other opportunities.
Hannah Taulbee – Heidelberg Student and SIEDC Intern