Strouse sworn in as new Holmes County commissioner
Eric Strouse, left, is sworn in as the newest Holmes County commissioner by Holmes County Judge Sean Warner. Strouse, who earned a seat at the commissioner’s table by winning the primary election and then running unopposed this November, was chosen to fulfill the seat vacated by former Commissioner Ray Eyler, who could not continue due to health issues.
It’s been a long and patient time for Eric Strouse, but the newly elected commissioner who was tabbed by the Holmes County Republican Party Central Committee to assume the vacated seat of Holmes County Commissioner Ray Eyler finally got to have his day in court, literally.
Strouse was sworn in by Holmes County Judge Sean Warner on Thursday, Nov. 14, close to 45 days after he was chosen by the Republican Party to fill the role on Sept. 30. Eyler’s seat had actually been vacated Aug. 28 due to health issues, so the seat had remained vacated until Nov. 14 when Strouse officially took his seat at the commissioner’s table alongside fellow Commissioners Dave Hall and Joe Miller.
“Finally, my first official meeting,” Strouse said. “It seems like it’s been a long time coming, but it really hasn’t.”
In order to assume Eyler’s role, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had to sign a certification to officially allow Strouse to finish out Eyler’s term prior to assuming his own commissioner’s seat, which will begin Jan. 1.
Strouse was sworn in at 8:45 a.m. and participated in his first official commissioner’s meeting at 10 a.m.
“The board looks forward to working with Eric, and we’re excited to finally fill the vacated seat,” Hall said.
Strouse, who won a hotly contested Republican race in the 2024 primaries this past spring, ran uncontested in the recent November election. The former longtime West Holmes School Board member is eager to take his experience there to the next level.
“I’m used to working with committees through my time serving on the school board,” Strouse said. “Like the school board, everything here is in public session, so every decision is made in the public setting. I’m also used to public meetings and talking to people about important topics, but this is a little different because it handles the county finances, which is on an entirely different level. It’s a little bit bigger.”
Strouse has sat in attendance at many weekly commissioner meetings prior to officially assuming his seat, which has helped him gain insight into the proceedings of how commissioner meetings operate.
He said he has learned a lot from his two fellow commissioners, who said they would break him into the role gently.
“There’s definitely a learning curve,” Strouse said. “I’ll have to sit and really observe to better understand what is expected and what is appropriate.”
He said understanding this is a public entity and his new role is one that is appointed by the people of Holmes County makes it important for him to keep an ear open to what the public wants and what is important to the constituents of Holmes County.
At the same time, he understands running the government budget is a huge part of what the commissioner role entails.
“Everyone out there is a constituent because they elected me to serve in this role because they have faith in what I think and the decisions I make, and I want to honor that,” Strouse said.
As Strouse considers the role of commissioner being one of a servant to the people of Holmes County, he said serving others is part of what encouraged him to run for the school board and now the commissioner’s office.
“I want to make a difference. I want to give back to the people,” Strouse said. “A lot of times change can be scary and people like what is working, but people who live here understand that things change and move forward. But I want to keep the Holmes County traditions the same and honor the past while looking forward to improving the future of our county.”
He said moving from a monthly school board meeting to the weekly commissioner’s meetings will be an adjustment, with more meetings making it more of a hands-on role.
That is a role he is excited to embrace as he takes on this new challenge as commissioner.