David Daniels sworn in as Highland County commissioner
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Highland County commissioners Jeff Duncan and Terry Britton voted in a special meeting Monday morning to appoint David Daniels to the commission, after which Daniels took the oath of office.
As previously reported, former commissioner Gary Abernathy’s last official day in office was Friday, Oct. 2, as he resigned due to moving outside the county.
Daniels is running, unopposed, on the Nov. 3 ballot for Abernathy’s former seat. This marks his second stint as a county commissioner, as Daniels previously served as commissioner from 1997-2002.
Duncan and Britton voted, 2-0, Monday morning on a resolution “authorizing the appointment of David Daniels to fill the vacancy in the office of Commissioners effective Oct. 5 until such time as the Republican Central Committee appoints a replacement.”
The Central Committee is meeting Oct. 27 to officially appoint Abernathy’s replacement. After Abernathy announced his resignation, Highland County Republican Party Executive Chair Paulette Donley told The Highland County Press that Daniels was the “obvious choice” for the commission seat.
After commissioners’ official vote, Daniels, Duncan, Britton and county auditor Bill Fawley crossed the street to enter the Highland County Common Pleas Juvenile & Probate Courtroom, where Judge Kevin Greer administered the oath of office for Daniels.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Daniels said of serving as commissioner. “I’ve had the opportunity to serve in this position before, but working with Terry and working with Jeff is going to be a great honor.
“The problems they’ve had to deal with over the course of the last couple years are a different set of challenges than anyone’s had. The opioid problems, Children Services issues with the number of kids in care — those are all things nobody’s had to deal with before. They’ve done a good job, and I look forward to learning from them and being a part of their team.”
Greer told Daniels that he believed Duncan and Britton “can learn a few things from you as well, with your experience.”
“Your experience will be, I think, helpful, being a local council member, Greenfield mayor and serving at the county level and state level,” Greer said. “I mean this sincerely, you have something not every public official has: common sense.
“You can’t use it if you don’t have it. You do have it, and I’m glad you’re doing this. I really am.”
Daniels said Monday's ceremony marked his 13th oath of office. His first official meeting as commissioner will be this Wednesday, Oct. 7.
In addition to serving as commissioner, Daniels was also the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture for six years. He served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives and was elected to the Ohio Senate in 2010 before being appointed to the Department of Agriculture in 2012. Locally, Daniels also served four years on Greenfield city council and eight years as mayor.
Throughout his public service, Daniels has been named a Watchdog of the Treasury four times; was named a Friend of Agriculture by the Ohio Farm Bureau; received the Trailblazer Award by the Area Agency on Aging; and was awarded the Legislator of the Year by the Ohio Career and Technical Education Association.
Daniels lives in the Rocky Fork Lake region with his wife, Karen.
As previously reported, former commissioner Gary Abernathy’s last official day in office was Friday, Oct. 2, as he resigned due to moving outside the county.
Daniels is running, unopposed, on the Nov. 3 ballot for Abernathy’s former seat. This marks his second stint as a county commissioner, as Daniels previously served as commissioner from 1997-2002.
Duncan and Britton voted, 2-0, Monday morning on a resolution “authorizing the appointment of David Daniels to fill the vacancy in the office of Commissioners effective Oct. 5 until such time as the Republican Central Committee appoints a replacement.”
The Central Committee is meeting Oct. 27 to officially appoint Abernathy’s replacement. After Abernathy announced his resignation, Highland County Republican Party Executive Chair Paulette Donley told The Highland County Press that Daniels was the “obvious choice” for the commission seat.
After commissioners’ official vote, Daniels, Duncan, Britton and county auditor Bill Fawley crossed the street to enter the Highland County Common Pleas Juvenile & Probate Courtroom, where Judge Kevin Greer administered the oath of office for Daniels.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Daniels said of serving as commissioner. “I’ve had the opportunity to serve in this position before, but working with Terry and working with Jeff is going to be a great honor.
“The problems they’ve had to deal with over the course of the last couple years are a different set of challenges than anyone’s had. The opioid problems, Children Services issues with the number of kids in care — those are all things nobody’s had to deal with before. They’ve done a good job, and I look forward to learning from them and being a part of their team.”
Greer told Daniels that he believed Duncan and Britton “can learn a few things from you as well, with your experience.”
“Your experience will be, I think, helpful, being a local council member, Greenfield mayor and serving at the county level and state level,” Greer said. “I mean this sincerely, you have something not every public official has: common sense.
“You can’t use it if you don’t have it. You do have it, and I’m glad you’re doing this. I really am.”
Daniels said Monday's ceremony marked his 13th oath of office. His first official meeting as commissioner will be this Wednesday, Oct. 7.
In addition to serving as commissioner, Daniels was also the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture for six years. He served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives and was elected to the Ohio Senate in 2010 before being appointed to the Department of Agriculture in 2012. Locally, Daniels also served four years on Greenfield city council and eight years as mayor.
Throughout his public service, Daniels has been named a Watchdog of the Treasury four times; was named a Friend of Agriculture by the Ohio Farm Bureau; received the Trailblazer Award by the Area Agency on Aging; and was awarded the Legislator of the Year by the Ohio Career and Technical Education Association.
Daniels lives in the Rocky Fork Lake region with his wife, Karen.