MANSFIELD — Heidi Ewing has worked with the Richland County Clerk of Courts office for 31 years.
On May 1, the Ontario resident will be in charge of the operation.
The 51-year-old Ewing was appointed Tuesday morning by the Richland County Board of Commissioners to serve as the interim Clerk of Courts.
She replaces Denise Ruhl, who is retiring April 30, after being elected to a four-year term in November 2024.
The Richland County Republican Party Central Committee will consider Ewing and any other candidates on June 4 for the position. The party’s selection will be on the ballot for election in November to complete the unexpired term.
During her three decades with the clerk of courts office, Ewing has worked in every aspect of the operation, starting in the auto title office. Most recently, she has worked as Ruhl’s deputy clerk.
“I am invested in our office. I know the work in the office and I know that I’m capable of assisting with that,” Ewing told commissioners.
“I’ve also been negotiating our union contract for the past 28 years, first on the side of the union and then on the side of management. I’m very familiar with our contract and how to work within the guidelines. I know that I can give the commissioners and the public a seamless transition.”
A county clerk of courts in Ohio is an elected official responsible for managing the legal records of the Court of Common Pleas, domestic relations court, and the District Court of Appeals.
Clerks file, docket, and preserve court pleadings, issue legal writs (subpoenas, warrants), collect fines/costs and operate the auto title department
She said she was excited for the position and plans to become more active in the local Republican Party.
“I started as a Democrat when I was 18. I think at 18 I didn’t know if I was a Republican or a Democrat, but I knew my Kentucky family was Democrat. So I thought I was a Democrat,” she said.
“Over the years, once I started working more in politics, I’ve seen that my beliefs and my morals lined up more with the Republican Party,” Ewing said. “So I did make that switch, probably about 25 years ago.”
Commissioner Darrell Banks said commissioners knew Ruhl, who worked in county government for more than 30 years, was going to retire. Ruhl was appointed in 2023 to complete an unexpired term and was then elected to the post in 2024.
“I knew that it was coming. I was hoping it wouldn’t happen for a couple more years, but she kind let us know it’s going to happen. I thought she’d be around to finish her term, so I was surprised it happened before then, but I suspected that it would end by then,” Banks said.
“She’s going to be a farmer now.”
