The News-Herald

Election Questionnaire

Date questionnaire completed: September 13, 2014

Office sought: Geauga County Commissioner

Political party: Democrat

Name: Ronald W. Wiech
Age: 56
Date of birth: 11/20/1958
Place of birth: Chardon, Ohio
Home address: 15853 Grove St. Middlefield, Ohio 44062
Length of residence in that community: 18 years
Twitter: @RonWiech
Facebook: Ron Wiech for County Commissioner
Web site: http://www.ronwiechforcommissioner.com
Occupation: Councilman, Transport driver
Employer: Village of Middlefield, Ullman Oil Co.
Business address: ____________________________________
Elected office experience: Councilman Village of Middlefield, Ohio, seven years precinct
Committee, five years executive committee.
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Non-elected office experience (boards, etc.): Twenty nine years drug and alcohol volunteer at
GEAUGA County Safety Center, 30 year career with ODOT, last 4 years serving on the executive
leadership
committee for District 12 ODOT, trained negotiator, trained facilitator.
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Education (Please only list schools youve graduated from and list degrees if applicable):
Graduate Chardon High School,
Elected Officials Academy at Kent State University February 17, 2010 May 5, 2010
Leadership Academy at Cleveland State University November 15, 2007 May 15, 2008
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Marital status: Married
Name of spouse: Christine Weikart
Name and age of any children: Renee Lester 32, Ronald E. Wiech 30
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Organizations: _______________________________________________________________________
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Should you be elected, what are three specific areas youd like to change, address, improve or further research,
and how specifically would you go about it?: Improvements and maintenance of infrastructure, discussing these
issues with elected officials from city, village and townships in Geauga County while researching grants, matching
funds etc. In todays economic climate, this will be challenging due to cuts made in the state budget to local
government funds. Respecting our senior citizens, maintaining the services provided by the Geauga County
Department of Aging to our seniors.
Researching methods and funding to address the heroin and opiate addiction issues in Geauga County.
United States Senator Sherrod Brown recently adopted legislation to address addiction issues in the Recovery
Enhancement for Addiction Treatment Act, federal legislation that would allow health-care providers to offer
more people medically assisted treatment for heroin addiction.
In a related development, a new state law effective Sept. 17 will require a parent or guardian to sign a consent
form before a doctor can give opioid painkillers to a juvenile. House Bill 314 was approved by the General
Assembly and signed by Gov. John Kasich earlier this year.
State Rep. Stephanie Kunze, R-Hilliard, the bills sponsor, said it emphasizes the parents primary role in their
childrens health.
She said a youngster might not even know that they can become addicted to something the doctor prescribes for
them.
The Start Talking consent form must be signed by a parent or guardian in 48 hours after the drugs are
prescribed.
Whether for past accomplishments or future goals, why should voters elect you?
As a councilman for the Village of Middlefield, I have served on the finance and ordinance, safety and parks
and recreation Committees. Serving on the economic development committee we developed a new village
website, with a resident side to and a business side to create economic growth. Created the first revolving loan
fund for a village in Ohio. We worked to promote Middlefield and attract several new businesses while retaining
existing businesses. A new factory is currently being built, creating approximately 100 new jobs when
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NOTE TO CANDIDATES: Please be aware that this questionnaire will be published.