Cynthia Fregiato Appointed Belmont County Clerk of Courts

Cynthia Fregiato will step into the position of Belmont County clerk of courts in 2019.

Fregiato, wife of Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Frank Fregiato, was appointed Monday to complete the remainder of David Trouten's term. Trouten was recently sworn in as Belmont County Eastern District Court judge. The term will run until 2020.

The executive committee of the Belmont County Republican Party held a special meeting to review candidates and elect someone to run the clerk of court's office and the title office. Chairman David Jones said they had two candidates: Fregiato and Jason Garczyk. Garczyk chose to withdraw his candidacy in Fregiato's favor.

"I think she'll be a phenomenal candidate for clerk of courts," he said.

She was approved unanimously by the committee. More than 20 members attended.

Fregiato has extensive experience as a member of the Belmont County Board of Elections.

"I've been privileged to be on the (Belmont County) board of elections by this committee for 23 years," she said. "It has been an honor to serve as your representative, and also to serve the citizens of Belmont County.

"When this opportunity came around I thought, I've always been interested in government and the process of how government works, and I thought it was a great opportunity for me to be able to serve the citizens of Belmont County in another way, in another capacity," Fregiato said. "I believe I have the administrative ability, I have the enthusiasm and I have the drive to fulfill the office and to get elected in 2020, and that is my goal. I want to thank you all for your vote of confidence."

She will tentatively be sworn in Jan. 2.

Before stepping down, Trouten had laid the groundwork for the planned transition of the office into a newly purchased building in the heart of the county. He has also worked to upgrade the office and has written a grant to hopefully assist in automating the system for calling potential jurors.

Fregiato said she looks forward to building on the upgrades.

"I believe Dave Trouten left the office in very good condition," she said. "The staff, from what I understand, are very efficient, they're very good at their jobs."

Fregiato said she plans to institute electronic filing options for attorneys.

"I need to get my feet wet a little bit first, then hopefully we can move on and take care of modernizing the office and keeping it in good condition," she said. "I plan on spending time in every aspect of the clerk of courts position. I want to learn every job."

Fregiato will be resigning her seat as one of the Republican representatives on the election board. David Jones said interested individuals must have their resumes in by Jan. 3.

A meeting will be scheduled Jan. 7 to decide whose name to submit to the Ohio Secretary of State to make an appointment. He invited board of election members to describe the requirements.

Frankie Lee Carnes, another Republican member, said the job was exacting and demanding, with duties that extend well beyond monthly meetings in the interest of upholding the public trust.

"You're on call 24/7, 365 days a year," she said, adding that the statutory requirements call for continuing education as well. "You have to be devoted."

Fregiato said she has done every job in the office, from poll worker to delivering ballots.

In other matters, Don Jones, who won the race for 95 District of the Ohio House of Representatives, was also in attendance. He congratulated Fregiato and thanked the party for its support. He added he is in the process of visiting and thanking GOP parties in the counties he represents.

"We're going to hit the ground running. Jan. 7 is when I get officially sworn in," he said.