Board of elections director to join Franklin County prosecutor's office
With Gary Tyack picked by voters to become Franklin County's prosecutor-elect, Board of Elections Director Ed Leonard will move to the downtown office to serve as one of Tyack's first assistants.
Leonard, who has 22-years of experience in county government and over four years as elections director, said the opportunity arose from a conversation he had after Tyack was voted into the prosecutor's office.
"When Gary was elected, people started telling me how it would be a good role for me there," he said. "Then, once it was certified, we were able to inform everybody that I was moving over to become one of the first assistants for the county prosecutor's office."
Leonard, a Democrat, will begin the new role on Dec. 14, weeks before Tyack is sworn into office. While hired by Tyack, Leonard will work for current Republican county Prosecutor Ron O'Brien to help ease the newly elected prosecutor's move to the position.
As a first assistant, Leonard will be tasked with overseeing information technology, human resources, fiscal and budget and other administrative functions. He will also ensure Tyack's transition to the prosecutor's office is done smoothly, which will be made easier with his experience in the county, he said.
"It's another opportunity to serve Franklin County in a way that continues to build on the experience and other roles I've had," Leonard said.
Even with his transition, Leonard said he's confident the elections board will continue to operate as it has under his leadership.
"I'm very proud of the work we've done at the board of elections," he said. "We've built a great team and addressed the challenges that came before at the board, and I know when I leave that the great team that's there will do the great work they've always done."
With Republican Doug Preisse serving as elections board chairman, the board will advertise the open position, accept applications from Democratic candidates and then decide who will take on the director's seat.
Leonard said with the board authorized to fill the role with someone who's of the opposite political party as the chairman, the Democratic board members will have a big say in who will be appointed – whether internally or externally.