Jerry Lahmers appointed to fill vacancy on Tuscarawas County Board of Elections

• Jerry Lahmers, 78, of Newcomerstown, has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections.
• He was selected by the Tuscarawas County Republican Party Executive Committee, and the choice must be approved by the Ohio Secretary of State.

NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ Republicans have chosen Jerry Lahmers of Newcomerstown to fill a vacancy on the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections caused by the death of Douglas S. "Doug" Wills.

The Tuscarawas County Republican Party Executive Committee made the decision at a meeting on Tuesday. The unexpired term runs until March 1, 2025. The selection needs final approval from the Ohio Secretary of State.

Lahmers, 78, is a retired food animal veterinarian. He attended Ohio University and received his doctor of veterinary medicine from Ohio State University. He and his family operate farm in the Newcomerstown area.

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He has served on the Newcomerstown Board of Education and the Buckeye Career Center Board of Education.

Lahmers is also a longtime member of Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau and has served as president and public policy chairman and as a member of the membership committee.

Never on his radar

He said serving on the board of elections was never on his radar until he was approached about it. "I'm involved in a lot of things in the community, so I put my name in the hat."

Lahmers was the only applicant for the position.

“Dr. Lahmers is a lifelong resident of Tuscarawas County with a clear understanding of Ohio’s and the county’s election process," said New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day, a member of the Republican Party Executive Committee. "He has held key positions on other county and statewide boards and organizations. Jerry Lahmers has over 50 years of service to our community as a food animal veterinarian, a trustee of the Farm Bureau board and an active member of the Tuscarawas County Republican Party.”

Wills, 72, a resident of York Township, died May 5. He was chairman of the county Republican Party and served on the board of elections for more than three decades. The party has not yet chosen his replacement as chairman.

Earlier this week, commissioners passed a resolution in honor of Wills, saying that his life "was rooted in kindness and service to others."

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.