EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a 2-part series on the Republican candidates running for Crawford County Commissioner heading into the March 15 primary.
GALION, Ohio — With the primaries fast approaching, Crawford County Commissioner candidates like Terry J. Gribble and Mo Ressallat are running hard for votes in Galion and the surrounding areas.
Gribble, 57, began his professional career in the health and wellness industry by joining the YMCA team in Hamilton, Ohio. He stayed there for seven years before moving to Galion’s YMCA, where he has stayed for the last 28 years.
He currently serves as the Galion YMCA executive director. Gribble said he has thought about running for county commissioner for years.
“I would estimate about 10 or 11 years I’ve talked about running for county commissioner. I really couldn’t do it until I got closer to my retirement from the YMCA profession. And that time is now near. So I felt this was the year to run for the open seat,” Gribble said.
Both he and Ressallat are running for Steve Reinhard’s (R) seat. Reinhard is running for the 87th Ohio House of Representatives seat in the Ohio Legislature.
Gribble said if he is elected that he will retire from the YMCA when his term begins.
In a letter sent to Galion residents, Gribble’s campaign treasurer, Kenneth Davis attributed Gribble’s success at the YMCA to his “expertise in budgeting, managing employees and being a good steward of money.”
Davis also wrote, “During his tenure here (the YMCA), the Galion Y has grown into one of the most successful YMCAs in the United States …”
“One of my strong suits has always been budgeting,” Gribble said. “I think I can take that into the commissioner’s office to analyze the budget, look for areas where we can generate additional income, reduce expense.
“Obviously the taxes on the citizens is a tremendous burden on some people.”
Gribble also serves on community boards, including the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce and the Galion Area Betterment Commission. He received his bachelor’s degree in outdoor education and recreation from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in health and physical education from Miami University of Ohio.
He currently serves as an auxiliary deputy with the Crawford County Sheriff, a position he’s held for 10 years. Since the commissioner’s office oversees the sheriff’s office, Gribble said he would work to allocate funds into the sheriff’s department for additional deputies and training.
“Obviously, there’s been a drug problem in Crawford County, many counties, now for years. So that’s an area I’d like to tackle,” he said.
Gribble said he’s a hard worker with not much idle time on his hands. In addition to working as executive director at the Galion YMCA, he coaches the high school tennis team.
“I’m always trying to help others,” he said.
He said voting for him would be voting for a set of new eyes with a fresh perspective.
“I will look at things a little differently as commissioner,” Gribble said.
