Kathleen M. Steingraber, Lake Township Trustee, is seeking election as the Wood County Commissioner in the November 5th General election. If elected, Mrs. Steingraber will be the only woman commissioner and the only commissioner from northern Wood County since Marilyn Baker resigned the post to become a member of the Ohio Turnpike Commission. In making her announcement, the 55-year old Mrs. Steingraber said, "Wood Countians have a right to expect a friendly, open and accessible commissioners office, but being a good county commissioner requires more. I am committed to working full-time with Commissioners Al Perkins and Bob Latta to insure that the voices of all Wood Countians are heard and that Wood County gets the best services possible - for least tax dollars possible."

"I know what I'm doing and how to get a job done. Over the years I've worked with almost every office, agency, and department of state and local county government. I know and understand the challenges facing our county and I am prepared to work as hard as necessary to address them. I believe my record of public private service, both in local government and the private sector, demonstrates my willingness to listen, work hard and follow through. As trustee, I have 'first-hand' and 'hands-on' experience dealing with all the thorny issues facing local and county government, including: finance, grants, police protection, parks, zoning and development, road/bridge/ditch work, rising electric and utility rates, waste disposal and personnel matters including negotiating with employee organizations."

A Walbridge resident, Mrs. Steingraber has been active in local affairs for many years. She is a trustee and board member of the Wood County Economic Development Commission which has been successful in preserving and attracting industry and jobs in the county. She serves on TMACOG Executive Committee and the Wood County Tax Incentive Review Committee. She served on the Wood County Board of Health from 1989 1992 where she was chairperson of the Environmental Committee. She is the past chairman of the Northwest Ohio Hospital Volunteer Services Organization. Mrs. Steingraber remains active in environmental protection concerns. She has been a board member for the Maumee Remedial Action and Implementation Committee since 1994. She is an advisor to the Public Utility Nuclear/Radiological Safety Board of Ohio. She is a past chairman of the Under ground Storage Tank Task Force, Sensitive Area I.D. Committee. She served on the House Bill 592 Study Committee on Solid Wastes.

In addition to serving as township trustee, Mrs. Steingraber works as a private independent consultant and grant writer for organizations like the University of Toledo Urban Affairs Center. She also serves as a member of the Mid Am Bank Advisory Board of Directors for the Ohio 795/Oregon Road Branch in Perrysburg Township. Mrs. Steingraber was a founder and board member of the Mercy St. Charles Hospitals Crystal Charity Ball Event for 10 years. In 1990 she was general chairman of the Rally by the River. She was a United Way volunteer from 1978-1991 and legislative affairs representative for St. Charles Hospital Auxiliary from 1984-1992.

Mrs. Steingraber and her husband have four grown children and ten grandchildren. They are both active boaters and she was a delegate to the 50th Anniversary Convention of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Convention in 1990. She is a member of St. Jerome's Church in Walbridge. Mrs. Steingraber is a University of Toledo graduate where she earned her bachelors degree in Liberal Studies with concentrations in the fields of math, science and engineering. Previously she worked as the financial officer of Walbridge Sports Inc. from 1988-92 and a still controller at Gulf Oil Refinery in Oregon, Ohio from 1974-81. She is a five-time recipient of the Press Newspapers Gold Star Award and the 1994 Business and Professional Women's Award. She has been listed in "Who's Who in American Women" and "Who's Who in the Midwest."