About Us | OAEO

Representing Democracy in Ohio Since 1949

Election officials in Ohio and across the United States are essential frontline workers who uphold our democracy. The Ohio Association of Election Officials advocates for these individuals, providing vital support in community networking, education, and working with Ohio legislators to develop sensible laws that enhance and protect the integrity of our elections.

OUR PURPOSE AND MISSION

The Ohio Association of Election Officials has a clear mission purpose for our members:

To foster a stronger relationship and enhance understanding among Board Members, Directors, and Deputy Directors of the County Boards of Elections in Ohio, along with Ohio's Chief Elections Officer, the Secretary of State.
To ensure consistency and clarity in the practices of the various Boards of Elections and in interpreting Ohio's election laws.To raise the standards of our profession through education and provide resources to better serve the public.
To advocate for legislation that improves election administration.
To promote professional and constructive discussions among all stakeholders in election administration.
To build unity and engagement among members by:
Establishing and maintaining a clearinghouse of valuable information regarding legal interpretations and opinions from the Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Elections Commission.
Advancing the interests of Ohio voters through research, discussion, information sharing, and appeals to public sentiment.

WHO ARE OUR MEMBERS?

The Ohio Association of Election Officials is the largest organization representing local Election Administrators in the state. Our membership includes individuals from both major political parties, comprised of board members, directors, deputy directors, and all full-Time staff from the 88 County Boards of Elections across Ohio.

OUR OFFICERS

The Ohio Association of Election Officials is led by a diverse slate of officers that have a combined decades of experience in Election Administration within the State of Ohio.

Terry Burton, President

Terry Burton is the Director of the Wood County Board of Elections. He began his career in Elections in 1990 during college, helping on election nights organizing ballots for counting. Terry joined the office full time in 1994, coordinating office technology and recruiting precinct workers, and was named Director in 1996. During his career Terry has administered 84 election cycles including 8 Presidential Elections. He is a current member of the OAEO Trustees and a former co-chair of the Legislative Committee. Terry also serves as the Secretary of Wood County Republican Party Executive Committee. He is a proud graduate of Bowling Green State University. Terry and his wife Julie, live in Bowling Green and have one son.

LaVera Scott, First Vice President

LaVera R. Scott currently serves as the Director of Elections for Lucas County. She has served in that capacity since 2017. She was elected as Second Vice Present of the OAEO in 2024, and First Vice President in 2025. LaVera’s contributions to electoral processes have not gone unnoticed. In 2017, she was honored as “The Democrat Ohio Election Official of the Year” by the Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, recognizing her pivotal role in fostering confidence with the Lucas County Board of Elections. Ever willing to share her expertise, she serves as a mentor to new elections officials, an appointment she embraces with enthusiasm. She received her accreditation as a Registered Election Official (REO) and also completed her coursework for national certification by the Election Center – Professional Education Program in 2020. LaVera’s impact extends beyond her local sphere. She has served in leadership roles within the Ohio Association of Election Officials (OAEO), including a four-year tenure as Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee and a Trustee since 2020. Her dedication to advocating for voter rights and shaping electoral legislation has earned her the respect of her peers and the recognition of the OAEO, which awarded her the prestigious “Volunteer of the Year” accolade in 2022.

Faith Lyon, Second Vice President

Faith is the Director of the Portage County Board of Elections with over 20 years of election experience. She began her career at the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, where she helped develop Ohio’s State Plan for implementing the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and coordinated project timelines. She also participated in the technical and administrative security assessment of Ohio’s voting equipment and monitored county compliance. At the Portage County Board of Elections, Faith started as a voter registration and ballot programming clerk before being promoted to Director. In this role, she collaborates with the Deputy Director to oversee all board operations. She is an Ohio Registered Election Official (REO) and a nationally Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) through the Election Center and Auburn University. Faith serves as Education Co-chair for the Ohio Association of Election Officials and previously served as a Trustee. She holds a Political Science degree from the University of Akron.

Brian Mead, Treasurer

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Michelle Wilcox, Secretary

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Paul Adams, Immediate Past President

Paul Adams has served as the Director of the Lorain County Board of Elections since 2010 and holds over two decades of experience in election administration. His career began in 2003 and includes a tenure with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Elections Division from 2009 to 2010. Paul has been an active member of the Ohio Association of Election Officials (OAEO), serving on both the Legislative Committee and the Board of Trustees, and held the position of OAEO President from January 2024 to January 2025.He earned his Ohio Registered Election Official certification in 2021 and completed a Certificate in Election Administration from the University of Minnesota in 2023. Paul holds a B.A. in History from The Ohio State University (2007) and is completing a Master’s in Public Administration at Kent State University in 2025. A resident of Lorain, Ohio, Paul is also involved in his community as a member of both local and state historical societies.

OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF

Aaron Ockerman, Executive Director

Aaron began his career in government as a senior at the University of Dayton, interning in the Leadership Office of Congressman John Boehner. He was later accepted into the prestigious Legislative Service Commission Fellowship, where he staffed the offices of State Senators Louis W. Blessing, Jr., Scott Nein, and Bob Latta. He then served as a Legislative Aide for Senator Blessing before joining the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation as Legislative Liaison. In 2000, Aaron transitioned to the private sector as an independent lobbyist. Since then, he has represented a diverse range of clients, including non-profits, statewide associations, Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, state colleges, and local governments. He has also been actively involved in numerous political campaigns. Now President of Ockerman Consulting, a full-service Government Affairs firm, Aaron lives with his wife, Denise, and their two children, Adam and Megan.

Nathanael Jonhenry, Legal

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Tim Cosgrove, Legal

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OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Bronwen Evener, Conference Committee Chair

Bronwen began her career as a clerk at the Delaware County Board of Elections in October 1997. Over the past twenty-eight years, what started as a job quickly evolved into a passion. In 2005, she was invited to join the conference committee of the association. Recognizing her dedication and organizational skills, President Marilyn Jacobcik appointed her as the committee’s chairman in 2009. In this role, she became the permanent liaison between the hotel, the President, and Executive Director Ockerman. Serving in this capacity has been one of Bronwen’s most fulfilling experiences. Witnessing counties come together to learn, share ideas, and build lasting friendships has been both rewarding and invaluable.

Faith Lyon, Education Committee Co-Chair

Jeff Rezabeck, Legislative Committee Co-Chair

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Brett Riffle, Legislative Committee Co-Chair

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Brian Sleeth, Education Committee Co-Chair

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OUR TRUSTEES

The Association is governed by the Board of Trustees, consisting of twenty individuals composed of ten Directors or Deputy Directors of County Boards of Elections equally divided between members of the Democratic and Republican Partieds as well as ten Members of the County Boards of Elections equally divided between members of the Demcoratic and Republican Parties.

Name	County	Party Affiliation
Paul Adams	Lorain	Democrat
Terry Burton	Wood	Republican
Aundrea Carpenter-Colvin	Athens	Republican
Judith Craig	Fayette	Democrat
Henry Curtis	Cuyahoga	Republican
Frank DiCarlantonio	Jefferson	Democrat
Amy Erisman	Darke	Democrat
Dale Fellows	Lake	Republican
Karla Herron	Delaware	Republican
Marilyn Jacobik	Lorain	Republican
Ben Kline	Huron	Democrat
Julie Leathers Stahl	Wayne	Republican
Faith Lyon	Portage	Republican
Joseph Mallory	Hamilton	Democrat
Brian Mead	Licking	Republican
Nicole Mickley	Medina	Republican
Tony Perlatti	Cuyahoga	Democrat
Jeff Rezabeck	Montgomery	Republican
Bill Rich	Summit	Democrat
LaVera Scott	Lucas	Democrat
Brian Sleeth	Warren	Democrat
Angela White	Fairfield	Republican
Antoine White	Franklin	Democrat
Michelle Wilcox	Auglaize	Democrat

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

The Legislative Committee consists of individuals evenly split between the two political parties. Its purpose is to examine proposed legislation related to election administration, recommend any necessary changes, and advise the Board of Trustees on whether to support or oppose such legislation.

Name	County	Party Affiliation
Isaac Arthur	Ashtabula	Republican
Damien Bawn	Hocking	Democrat
Bryon Bell	Wayne	Democrat
Cecilia Blevins	Huron	Republican
Lisa Boggs	Preble	Democrat
Tony Brooks	Athens	Democrat
Laura Bruns	Miami	Republican
Charlie Bush	Clark	Democrat
Kamron Chervenak	Belmont	Republican
Chelsea Cline	Noble	Republican
Randi Clites	Portage	Democrat
Eric Corbin	Butler	Democrat
Diana Dulebohn	Auglaize	Democrat
Steven Fansler	Logan	Republican
Marlee Gibson	Muskingum	Democrat
Bethe Goldenfield	Warren	Democrat
Jane Hanley	Fairfield	Republican
Charlie Hardman	Wayne	Republican
Karla Herron	Delaware	Republican
Inez James	Lorain	Democrat
Regine Johnson	Stark	Democrat
Dee Keister-Smith	Perry	Democrat
Mollie Landefeld	Monroe	Democrat
Dante Lewis	Lake	Republican
Alex Linser	Hamilton	Democrat
Jessica Morgan	Feyette	Republican
Carla Patton	Franklin	Republican
Stephanie Penrose	Trumbull	Republican
Carol Perry	Athens	Democrat
Jeff Rezabek (Co-Chair)	Montgomery	Republican
Brett Riffle. (Co-Chair)	Fairfield	Democrat
Kirsten Ross	Coshocton	Republican
LaVera Scott	Lucas	Democrat
Luke Scott	Auglaize	Republican
Jamie Snider	Perry	Republican
Nicole Unzicker	Butler	Republican
Cheri Whipkey	Carroll	Democrat
Jane Zimmerman	Richland	Republican