Ottawa Co. judge a candidate for appeals court

PORT CLINTON -- Judge Frederick C. (Fritz) Hany II of the Ottawa County Municipal Court formalized his candidacy for the Sixth District Court of Appeals' position previously held by the late Judge William Skow.

Hany gathered signatures from voters in each of the eight counties in the district, and filed his petition with the Lucas County Board of Elections.

The Sixth District Court of Appeals hears cases from the Municipal, County and Common Pleas Courts located in Erie, Fulton, Huron, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Williams and Wood counties. Currently, all five judges on this court are from Lucas County. Judge Hany is the only candidate who is from one of the other seven counties.

"Judge Hany is a distinguished, well-respected judge who would bring the additional benefit of a new perspective to the bench of someone not from the major county in the appellate district and that diversity of thought is important to any appellate panel," said State Representative Jeff Wagner (R-Sycamore)

"Judge Hany is a distinguished, well-respected judge who would bring the additional benefit of a new perspective to the bench of someone not from the major county in the appellate district and that diversity of thought is important to any appellate panel," said State Representative Jeff Wagner (R-Sycamore)

Hany is currently in his 19th year on the Municipal Court bench, having been elected four times.

"I have been honored to serve our citizens in one of Ohio's 'People's Courts,' helping to resolve their issues and problems. I would be privileged to take my judicial experiences to our Court of Appeals," said Hany.

Ottawa County Commissioner Steve Arndt echoed this in describing Hany's administrative ability, "During his tenure as judge, Hany has instituted many innovative programs saving taxpayer dollars and always being responsive to the needs of the citizens; including, creating a court web-site, expanding the hours of the court, a Mediation program and establishing a Mental-health Court Docket."

Hany has been appointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio to several statewide-boards and commissions which have recommended ways to improve and modernize law enforcement and court administration in Ohio. He is presently a member of the Ohio Sentencing Commission and the Ohio Rules of Practice and Procedures Commission.

Since 1999, Hany has been a faculty member of the Ohio Judicial College.

Hany's career of community service goes beyond the bench. He was the first President of the Ottawa County Visitor's Bureau, a former member of Ottawa County's Human Rights Committee and is a member of the Ottawa County Farm Bureau and Ohio Farmers Union. He and his wife Susan, an Oak Harbor High School teacher, live in Oak Harbor and have two daughters, Joan and Elizabeth.