Nicole Rae Mickley appointed as new director of the Medina County Board of Elections

MEDINA — The Medina County Board of Elections unanimously appointed Nicole Rae Mickley to be the new director during a special meeting Tuesday. Mickley has been director of the Carroll County Board of Elections since September 2019. In January 2022, she received her Ohio registered election official certification, and she is working toward receiving the certified election registration administrator certification. She anticipates receiving a bachelor's degree in political science from Liberty University this fall. The director is responsible for administering fair and accurate elections in the county through overseeing the election process and supervising elections, according to the board of elections. The Medina County Board of Elections was seeking a Republican director. According to the Ohio secretary of state's Ohio Election Official Manual, the director must be of a different political party than the deputy director and the chairperson of the board. Medina County Deputy Director Heather McDermott and Chairperson Pam Miller are both Democrats. Board member Nancy Abbott said the board received several good resumes for the position, and conducted interviews as a group. "I thought it was important to have all four of us in those interviews," she said. "I think we agree that Nicole is best suited for this position." The current director, Carol Lawler, will be retiring in April. Abbott said Mickley will be a director in training from March 13 until Lawler's retirement. After that, Mickley will take on the director's full scope of responsibilities. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose must approve and appoint Mickley to the position as well. It is also required that she pass a criminal background check and drug screening. Lawler has served as director of the Medina County Board of Elections for nine years. She presented her official letter to the board that stated her plans to retire during a meeting late last year. The county's board of elections will hold its next meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday for the purpose of reorganization. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.