July 19, 2001
Distel defends against Democrats
By Erik Burriss
Staff Writer
Tom Distel fired back on Wednesday at Democrats who condemned his vote on the decision to close the public defenders office, hinting he might run for re-election as a Republican if his party continues to criticize him publicly.
In a May 16 voice vote with no dissents, the executive committee of the county party approved a motion condemning Distel's yes vote on the closure of the office as being against party principles. Distel was not present at the May meeting.
"I can't say I will always be a Democrat, but I always intend to be a Democrat," Distel said at the July committee meeting. "If you do not believe I'm doing my job as a Democrat, I will step down."
There were no takers on Distel's offer.
"When I decided to run against Janet (Dell), three-quarters of you said I was crazy," Distel said. After defeating the three-term incumbent last November, "lots of you said 'I can't believe it.' Now less than six months later, I'm being attacked."
Distel said it was suspicious that for after a decade of not covering executive committee meetings, the Advertiser-Tribune covered that particular one.
"I think I was set up," he said.
Fostoria Councilwoman Mary Puffenberger, the committee's chairwoman said the committee's officers had no advance knowledge that the subject would come up at May's meeting.
When the Republican Party has issues with its elected officials, it does not make public pronouncements condemning them, Distel said.
"If you want to come and talk to me, I'll discuss it with you," the county's lone Democrat on the Board of County Commissioners said. "If we have a disagreement, I think we should talk it out."
Distel said the decision to close the public defenders office was not about party politics.
"I was elected by the people," he said. "I was elected by independents and Republicans. I didn't vote on this as a Democratic and Republican issue."
Former County Commissioner Tim Rook said partisan politics have no place in the county commissioners office.
"When we ran we were Republicans or Democrats," Rook said, "but when elected, we were commissioners."
The committees action in May was "inappropriate," said Rook, who was not present at the May meeting.
"We're all Democrats we should stick together."
Distel said his decision to vote yes on the closure was based on the way Gary Hauter ran the office.
After losing an attorney to the county prosecutors office, Hauter took the remaining money appropriated for that attorney's salary and gave his remaining employees raises, Distel said. Hauter than declared that the office had a full case load, forcing the court appointment of any new cases.
"I feel it was inappropriate," Distel said, and since the public defender is not hired by the commissioners, they had no choice but to abolish the office.
Other committee members who were not present at the May meeting also supported Distel.
"In business, we lose jobs every day," Tiffin Councilman Paul Elchert said. "My main concern is that people that need a lawyer get good representation."
Distel said the closure will save the county money, despite protestations from those opposed to the move that it will cost the county more.
"We're coming along with our numbers, and it looks like we can do it," he said. "We're going to try it out; if it doesn't work, we'll have to down our heads and say it didn't work."