MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Auditor Margaret Ann Ruhl is leaving the job she has held for nearly 14 years to begin a new chapter of her career as the state representative for Ohio’s 90th District. She will be inaugurated Monday at the Statehouse.
Ruhl said the change in jobs has brought many feelings.
“I have mixed emotions,” she said. “I’m excited to be moving on, but I’m going to miss my staff and the people of the county. Although I do plan to visit them as state rep on a regular basis.”
Ruhl said she will often be in Mount Vernon, and that she plans to visit monthly with the commissioners of the four counties which are part of her district. She will continue to live in Mount Vernon and sometimes work from a home office.
Ruhl said much has changed about the auditor’s job since she first took office in March 1995.
“The Internet was the biggest thing that we changed,” she said. “Technology has changed so much.”
She said that although the online services the auditor’s office now offers has made many of the procedures more accessible to the public, she and her staff sometimes miss the everyday pleasant interaction they had with the public before online services were available. Ruhl said Realtors and the public used to stop in regularly to do title searches and for property cards, both of which now can be done online. People do still come in personally to complain, however.
“My staff made a comment one time that the only people that come into the office are angry,” she said.
Ruhl said the people are what she will miss most about her job. What she will miss the least?
“This time of year,” she said with a laugh, referring to the stressful property tax season.
Ruhl’s staff threw a retirement party for her Tuesday afternoon which was attended by many of her friends and colleagues, as well as her staff.
Several staff members said they had mixed emotions about seeing a boss they clearly have affection for, move on to a new position.
“It’s been great,” staff member Connie Durbin said of the eight years she has worked with Ruhl. “She has been very understanding and helpful. We are sorry to see her go.”
Chief Deputy Knox County Auditor Jonette Curry, who has been with the auditor’s office for 23 years, called Ruhl’s leaving bittersweet for the staff.
“We wish her well, but we are sorry to lose her,” Curry said. “This is a great honor and an opportunity for her.”
Curry was appointed interim Knox County auditor by the Knox County Commissioners. She will step into that job when Ruhl’s resignation becomes effective tonight at midnight. On Jan. 8, 2009, the Knox County Republican Central Committee will choose among several candidates for the position.
Ruhl said her years as Mount Vernon city auditor and Knox County auditor have given her a viewpoint about local government that she plans to take with her to the Statehouse.
“I think that will give me a plus over there because when they propose changes, hopefully they can see what effect that will have on the local people,” she said.
“If they start cutting local government money, that hurts everybody,” Ruhl added. “I’ll do everything I can to protect local government.”
Ruhl said acquainting herself with her new legislative aide and her new office at the Riffe Center has been exciting. She said she looks forward to protecting the interests of her constituents.
“I’m looking forward to helping the people of the district in a time we know jobs are difficult, if not impossible, to find,” she said.
The new job may bring perks such as a Columbus office and an honorable title, but, Ruhl joked, she still has an employer to report to.
“If I miss a session, I have to have an excuse,” she said with a grin. “Just like school.”
