Schlegel running for 82nd House seat

Van Wert independent/contributor content

The newly created 82nd Ohio House District race just got another candidate.

Pete Schlegel of rural Paulding County has filed with the Paulding County Board of Elections to run for the 82nd House District seat as an independent.

The new House District, which go into effect in January, will include Defiance, Paulding and Van Wert counties, as well as the northwest corner of Auglaize County.

Schlegel cites the need for an independent political voice as his reason for seeking the seat.

“People ask what my platform is; it’s really simple,” Schlegel said. “We need a voice in the 82nd that will listen to the people of this district no matter what political party they may come from, or if they are even associated with a party. The definition of representative is standing or acting for another, especially through a delegated authority, and that is truly what I believe. It’s about what the people want.

“Now, can we agree on everything?” Schlegel added. “Probably not, but we at least need to have an open discussion in our district to discuss the challenges that we all face, and if we can’t agree, we need to disagree respectfully and tackle the next challenge.”

A former Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, EMS helicopter pilot and country music recording artist, Schlegel now farms and his family owns and operates the former Cabbage Patch Restaurant property at Five Span — south of Defiance — where a convenience store operates and a gas station project is underway.

Schlegel and his wife, Kathy, have two sons, Cody and Alex, and two daughters, Brooke and Haley, and live in rural Paulding County.

He can be reached at, pete82ohio@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/pete.schlegel, Twitter peteschlegel@peteschlegel or by calling 419.438.0186.