Seneca County worker fired for seeking office

3/15/2012

TIFFIN — Seneca County commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to fire a county maintenance worker who filed petitions to run as an independent candidate for county commissioner.

Citing an Ohio law that prohibits classified employees from running for elected office, commissioners met with Paul Shoemaker behind closed doors Tuesday before firing him.

“I got let go,” he said after the meeting. “They made their decision and so did I. I just hate losing my job.”

By submitting a petition to the Seneca County Board of Elections, Mr. Shoemaker admitted he violated the policy. However, he said he could have been disciplined in ways that did not include termination.

He is seeking to run against Holly Stacy, who defeated incumbent Commissioner Dave Sauber in the Republican primary.