MANSFIELD, Ohio (UPDATED 1:30 p.m.) — Mansfield is mourning the loss of one of its political leaders, Ed Meehan.
The former Mansfield mayor died Thursday night from a heart attack, Richland County Republican Party Chairman Mike Casto said in an email.
“We all know that whenever one talks about the Richland County Republican Party, Mansfield politics, or our community in general, the conversation eventually comes around to Ed Meehan,” Casto wrote. “His contribution to our community and the lives of those residing here is beyond measure. Whether it is from his days as a regional planner or his time as mayor of Mansfield, to his work at the OSR Museum and leader of the Republican Party, Ed has made a positive mark.”
Casto said he’d known Meehan for more than 40 years.
“I could sense that what was important to Ed was that he wanted the job of managing his community to be in the hands of good, competent people. He knew that the best way to ensure good community leadership was to become personally involved in the political process, which eventually drew him into becoming mayor of Mansfield and chairman of the Richland County Republican Party,” he said.
Casto said Meehan “had a way with people,” and a great sense of humor.
“I remember when he was chairman of the party he would often give a presentation using projector and would show a few Mad Magazine cartoons by Don Martin to help make his point,” he recollected. “He loved a good political joke.”
Casto described Meehan as a good leader and friend and a hard worker.
He said that Meehan had planned to run for the Republican Party chairman position when his current term ended next April.
“He was excited about the coming presidential election year and had a lot of plans to help keep his county party strong and viable,” he said. “Next year’s political races won’t be the same without Ed.
“Mansfield is a better place because of Ed Meehan and, had he lived, he would have continued to devote his time, energy, and talent into making his community an even finer place to live and work.”
“He was a great guy and contributed so much,” Dan Seckel of Seckel Group Architects said.
Seckel said he met Meehan in the 70s. During that time, Meehan operated his own consulting planning firm, Seckel said.
“He was an urban planner by trade,” Seckel said.
Mayor Tim Theaker said the news came as a shock.
“He was just in here (the municipal building) yesterday,” Theaker said. He said Meehan was working on some projects that would have benefited both Mansfield and Ontario.
Theaker said they worked closely together the last several years.
“He was bringing a lot of insight to the city,” he said, adding, “He had some great ideas that we need to continue on.”
