Sharon Sweda is county Democrats' choice for Board of Elections vacancy

Former Lorain County Commissioner Sharon Sweda was recommended to fill a vacancy on the county Board of Elections in a vote by members of the local Democratic Party's executive committee Sunday. "I am up for the job. I am up for the work," Sweda said. "I want to meet with each of you and figure out where you think we can go, what we can do and how we will make sure that come next fall fall and the following fall, we have feet and boots on the ground again, we have a campaign that is something to reckon with and we start getting Democrats back in office." In a speech asking executive committee members for their support, Sweda said she once owned the only female-owned real estate firm in Lorain County and later owned the county's only female-owned title company. She said that business background puts her in a good position to assume the Board of Elections member role. County boards of elections in Ohio are governed by four-person boards, composed of two members from each the Democratic and Republican parties. Former Lorain County Board of Elections member Tom Smith, a Democrat, resigned from his position last month, giving the party the task of choosing a candidate to recommend that the Ohio Secretary of State approve for the vacancy. "The secretary of state is not required to accept our recommendation but generally does, assuming (Sweda) is otherwise qualified," said county Democratic Party chairman Tony Giardini. "I don't know anything that prevents Sharon from being qualified so I anticipate his approval." Sweda was nominated for the vacancy by Amherst City Councilman Martin Heberling, at-large. Also receiving a nomination was former Oberlin City Councilman Ronnie Rimbert. He said he feels it is important for the local Democratic party to look at itself and figure out where it is going. "We as a Democratic party have to support each and every one of us. I don't care if you live in Ridgeville, I don't care if you live in Vermilion," Rimbert said. He argued that the party is not diverse enough at the top and needs to do a better job of reaching out to Democrats in the southern part of Lorain County. Rimbert garnered 15 votes, well shy of the 43 that Giardini said were needed for a majority. The initial count, taken verbally during a Zoom meeting of the committee, showed Sweda earned at least 65 votes. Sweda was also selected as chair of the Lorain County Democrats' central committee. She was nominated for that role by Sheffield Mayor John Hunter and no vote was required as no other nominations were made. Sweda extended her appreciation to the leadership of Smith, who she will succeed as central committee chair. "He's been an inspiration. He's been just a stalwart leader in our party for so many years and he leaves big shoes to fill," she said. Sweda has "excellent ideas about improving and getting even more women involved in our party," Giardini said. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.