NEWS

Republicans choose Wiersma as interim sheriff

Daniel Carson
Reporter

FREMONT- Former Fremont police Chief Tim Wiersma stood near Fremont Municipal Court's jury box and calmly, point-by-point, made his closing argument to a crowded room of Republican Central Committee members Wednesday night.

He reminded members of his years of supervisory experience with the Fremont department and said he "held his head up high" after he retired in September 2015.

It worked.

The committee tapped Wiersma by a wide margin to be the county's interim sheriff, selecting the former police chief over Clyde police Chief Bruce Gower by 26-to-7 vote.

"I'm not running for office. I want to run the office," Wiersma said.

Former Fremont police Chief Tim Wiersma was named interim Sandusky County sheriff Wednesday night.

The interim sheriff will fill in for suspended and indicted Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer and would serve through December. Should Overmyer, who remains on the Nov. 8 ballot, win re-election, another appointment would be needed until the incumbent's 43 criminal charges are resolved.

Overmyer, a committee member, was present at Wednesday's meeting and voted for Wiersma at roll call.

Independent candidates Chris Hilton and James Consolo — who will square off against Overmyer in the general election — also attended the meeting, but the committee voted to not allow the two men to speak to the group or be considered for the interim position, due to their lack of party affiliation.

Before the committee's vote to only allow Republican candidates to be considered for interim sheriff, Hilton said he wanted to tell committee members to put partisan politics aside and do what's best for the county.

"We have a very unique situation here," Hilton said.

He said that, even with his endorsement from the county's Democratic Party, he still considered himself an independent.

After the vote, Hilton described himself as disappointed, but not surprised, and said he would respect the decision.

Consolo said he was 100 percent in agreement with the committee's decision and would put his faith in the people of the county in the November election.

"I think this is the fair way to do it," Consolo said, adding that he had planned to tell committee members about his law enforcement background and 28 years of experience working at the sheriff's office if he had been allowed to take the floor Wednesday.

Wiersma retired from the Fremont Police Department in September 2015 after being reinstated from a suspension. He was placed on paid leave in May 2015 following a complaint he destroyed a department memo considered to be public record. He was later cleared of any wrongdoing after a state investigation.

Wednesday, Wiersma took committee members through that incident and emphasized there would be no issues in working with deputies or other law enforcement agencies.

Since his retirement, Wiersma has worked part-time as a Fremont Municipal Court bailiff. He told the committee he would take leave from that position if he were appointed as interim sheriff.

Wiersma served as Fremont police chief for seven years and had 23 years of supervisory experience prior to his retirement.

The former police chief said he would rely on sheriff's Capt. Steve Stotz — who has handled administrative duties in Overmyer's absence — and Capt. Mark Fisher, the jail administrator, for assistance as he transitions into the new role.

Stotz told the News-Messenger Oct. 4 he did not plan to seek the appointment to become interim sheriff and would assist whomever is appointed.

Wiersma spoke with Stotz and decided to submit his application for the interim slot after the captain indicated he would not seek the position.

"I thought there was a void," Wiersma said, adding that he had no plans to run for office in the future and stressing the interim role was "a one shot deal."

Overmyer was suspended from office by a panel of three retired judges after being indicted on 43 criminal charges Aug. 23, including 38 felony charges. He is alleged to have deceived physicians and pharmacists to obtain prescription medication, stolen drug take-back boxes from area police departments and tampered with records regarding the department's Furtherance of Justice account.

The sheriff did not contest the suspension, but plans to fight his charges in court, according to his attorney Ronald Mayle, of Fremont. Overmyer has a trial set for March 6 at the Sandusky County Common Pleas Court.

County Treasurer Irma Celestino cast one of the 26 votes for Wiersma. Celestino said the committee chose to not consider Hilton or Consolo because it had always appointed Republicans for previous interim county positions.

"I think he proved himself that he could run the sheriff's office during the interim period," Celestino said of Wiersma.

Wiersma said one of his main focuses would be to help the winner of the Nov. 8 sheriff's race as he assumes the office in January.

Overmyer, Consolo and Hilton are all scheduled to appear at Thursday's News-Messenger sheriff's debate, which starts at 6:30 p.m. at Fremont Middle School.

dacarson@gannett.com

419-334-1046

Twitter:@DanielCarson7