Ottawa County's Larry Hartlaub leaving for Dayton

PORT CLINTON — Ottawa County auditor Larry Hartlaub is leaving at the end of the year to take a new job in the Montgomery County Auditor's office in Dayton.Hartlaub, who will become an assistant auditor for Montgomery County, was up for re-election in 2018, so any replacement will have to decide soon whether to seek a full term."It's a good opportunity for me," said Hartlaub, 35, who starts in Dayton on Jan. 3. "It's a bigger city, a bigger office. I'll be part of the management team down there. When opportunity knocks, take the opportunity."His new employer is excited to add Hartlaub to the team. "It's a real plus for me to have him," said Karl Keith, Montgomery County's auditor, who got to know Hartlaub through the state auditors association. "He's got a reputation for being a smart guy who works hard and takes his responsibilities very seriously."Hartlaub is a Port Clinton native who won two terms as Port Clinton's city auditor. After being appointed county auditor in December 2012, he went on to win a full term in 2014.Hartlaub ran for state representative last year in an unsuccessful challenge to state Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, for the 89th House seat. Hartlaub doesn't rule out future campaigns but says he's out of the elections game for now."At the moment, I'm going to be happy to step away from elective politics," he said.Hartlaub said that appointing a replacement will be a two-step process.The county commissioners can name a temporary replacement, but it will be up to the executive committee of the Ottawa County Democratic Party to name a more long-term replacement. Hartlaub is a Democrat, so the local party gets to pick his successor.If Hartlaub sought re-election as Ottawa County's auditor, his new term would begin in March 2019, following the fall 2018 election. With him leaving, any replacement would need to decide quickly whether to run for a full term.Although he has strong ties to Port Clinton — he's a graduate of Port Clinton High School — Hartlaub also has a Dayton connection. In 2004, he earned a bachelor's degree in business economics from Wright State University.Ottawa County had a population of 41,428 as of the 2010 census. The 2010 census listed a population of 535,153 for Montgomery County, which includes Dayton, the county seat.Hartlaub won the Ohio Distinguished County Auditor Award in 2015 and in 2012 was named the Main Street Port Clinton Volunteer of the Year. His service for the Main Street group including writing a guidebook, "How to Start a Business in Downtown Port Clinton."Getting a new job wasn't Hartlaub's only life changing experience this year. The auditor got married in May.Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.Larry Hartlaub