New assistant health commissioner named

SANDUSKY — Erie County's health board has named Trey Hardy as the assistant health commissioner for Erie County. Richard Barry Hardy III — the nickname "Trey" comes from his full birth name — won the appointment at Tuesday's regular meeting of the health board, conducted at the health department. Board members voted unanimously to approve Hardy for the post. Hardy will assume some of the administrative load currently handled by Erie County's health commissioner, Pete Schade. But Hardy, 50, also figures into the department's succession plans, although Schade, 57, says he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The assistant commissioner position was created to groom Hardy to take over, although there is no guarantee that will happen, Schade said. Hardy said he also realizes becoming the next health commissioner is not a foregone conclusion. "That would be my aspiration," Hardy said. As for the health department today, "I need somebody else who can do some other things at my level," Schade said. Hardy will concentrate in areas such as human resources, agency compliance, epidemiology and behavioral health. Hardy has served as chief of behavioral health at the health department since 2017, running the detox center and the health department's mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs. He's a member of the Huron city council. He is winding up his current term and did not seek another term. Hardy said he's worked a variety of jobs but said the health department has become his favorite. "Helping people I think is very rewarding," he said. "I love coming to work every day." A Lima native, Hardy also has worked in the local boat sales business in three different businesses. For example, he was general manager of MarineMax in Port Clinton, managing 40 employees. He also has worked as a lawyer at the McGookey Law Offices in Sandusky, specializing in helping homeowners dealing with foreclosures, and worked for the Northern Ohio Recovery Association before coming to the health department. Married for 22 years with three sons, Hardy has served as president of the Huron Rotary Club and is an active member of Huron United Methodist Church. When he's off duty, he enjoys family activities, boating, water sports, running, golf, tennis and basketball. Hardy has a bachelor's degree in industrial management from Purdue University, a law degree from Capital University and a master's degree in public health from Kent State University that he completed last year. Tuesday's meeting of the health board was the first held under new rules imposed during the pandemic by OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Everyone at the meeting was required to wear a mask, including members of the public in the audience, and seating was spaced out to provide social distancing.