This year’s Union County Commissioner election is shaping up as a contest between established Marysville and the new growth in Union County.
Voters will choose between former Marysville Mayor, Republican Christiane Schmenk, and Arizona native, Democrat Tiffanie Roberts, of Dublin, to replace long-time commissioner Gary Lee.
Schmenk graduated from Marysville High School, earned a B.S. from Ohio Northern University and her law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
She served as the elected Mayor of Marysville from 2008 to 2011. She currently works as an economic development attorney for Bricker & Eckler LLP. Before her current position, Schmenk served as director of the Ohio Development Services Agency and an attorney for the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.
Roberts was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She graduated from the University of Arizona where she studied Sociology and Family Studies. She notes that through college she interned at Child Protective Services and after graduation worked at a shelter for teens on probation before focusing on her work with special needs adoptions and she maintains her membership in the National Association of Social Workers.
Roberts is currently a stay-at-home mom and spends time volunteering for local community service groups. She said she is involved in her daughters’ schools, both as a substitute teacher and PTO volunteer.
While the candidates have very different backgrounds, both cite smart growth as a major reason they choose to run for the position.
“I care deeply about our county,” Schmenk said. “There are a lot of good things happening here in Marysville. I do have concerns that if growth is not done in a good way, it could hurt our quality of life.”
Roberts said “the majority” of the county growth is happening in the southeast portion where her family lives.
“We have felt the impact on the schools that have not been addressed adequately,” Robert said. “We are seeing congested roads, roundabouts, and intersections that have not kept up with that growth.
She said it is important for the growing community to have a voice.
“Having a resident of the fast growing region of Union County as a commissioner is obvious and logical,” Roberts said.
She added that her time in Union County has put her in “a ‘sweet spot’ of having planted roots and made connections that allow me to relate with long term residents but also provides a better perspective for how to solve problems that aren’t even being discussed.”
Schmenk leaned on her knowledge of and service to the community.
“I think I have a good, deep knowledge of our county,” Schmenk said, noting that she has been to all 14 townships during her campaign.
Both candidates said there needs to be better cooperation and communication between county, municipal and township officials. Roberts said that while the county is growing, it is not growing together.
“There is hostility and friction between cities and townships,” Roberts said.
Schmenk said she has learned a lot from the township officials she has met with.
“I have learned about their needs and their good ideas for their community and county,” Schmenk said.
She said she wants to incorporate those lessons in one her major objectives.
“Schmenk said she is eager to see where the county stands, “from a strategic plan stand point.”
“If that needs updated, I would like to achieve that,” Schmenk said.
That’s where the cooperation can begin.
“I think it is important our other communities and our townships be involved with that to help our townships and our whole county in preparing for the future,” Schmenk said.
Roberts said she wants to focus on meeting individual needs. She said she believes many residents don’t believe their commissioners are serving them.
“Commissioners make decisions that affect everybody in our county and I want our residents to know who is making these decisions and why,” Roberts said. “I want our residents to be confident that their voices are being heard.”
She said her time in social work taught her to “see situations as they really are and make the tough decisions that have to be made.”
Schmenk has the backing of many of Marysville and Union County’s established leaders, but says she stands on her own merits.
“I think my experience is what makes me qualified,” Schmenk said.
She added that even her experience in the private sector, “helps me understand what’s important to businesses and I hope will help the county in making it a business friendly place.”
Schmenk said her work at Bricker & Eckler allows her to work with other communities to see what works and what doesn’t.
ºEven so, she said she will make decisions about her future with the firm after she knows more about her obligations as a commissioner.
“I am going to stay in the beginning and evaluate what the demands are of being a county commissioner,” Schmenk said. “I am absolutely prepared to step away from Bricker & Eckler if the demands of being a county commissioner demand it.”
She added, “If the county commissioner role demands I be there full time, I will be.”
Roberts said, “having a commissioner who is committed to working full time is necessary.”
She said she wants to publish agendas earlier and to make meetings more accessible.
“I would like to see at least quarterly evening townhall meetings for those who would like to participate but can’t attend daytime, weekday meetings,” Roberts said. “Voters can expect easy access to me- I will have publicly announced events such as coffee with the commissioner in different parts of the county so I can meet everyone.”
Schmenk said she too sees the importance of meeting with community members around the whole county.
“Each community has unique assets and I will work hard to keep our county strong,” Schmenk said. “I will work to keep communication with all parts of our county.”
Schmenk has been married to her husband, Mike, since 1981. They have two adult children.
She has served on the board of The Hope Center, the Union County Foundation, Memorial Health, the Union County Chamber of Commerce and the Marysville Public Library. She has also been chair of the Union County Republican Party.
Roberts and her husband, Aaron, are raising two daughters in Union County.
She is co-president of the Dublin Jerome High School PTO.
Roberts is a member of the Union County Chamber of Commerce, the Columbus Metropolitan Club, Junior League of Columbus and the League of Women Voters.
“I am running for Union County Commissioner because it is time for a change,” Roberts said. “We simply can’t do things the same way we did them 20 years ago. It is time for all of Union County to have a voice.”