Regula reflects on political service
WAPAKONETA — As 2020 concludes, Auglaize County Commissioner Don Regula is ending his career in that role and has been transitioning Commissioner Dave Bambauer to take his seat.
Regula has been farming for decades in Auglaize County after serving in the U. S. Army. In 1983 he started plowing snow for Clay Township. In 1985 when a trustee retired, he was asked to run for Clay Township trustee. Regula then went to county meetings and was at one time elected president of the County Township Association.
“Thing’s just started clicking for Don,” Regula said of how his service evolved.
He said although he didn’t know it when he started, public service was something he was born to do. He said he wanted to be a county commissioner to continue the great service of past commissioners.
“Being a commissioner is a team effort; it’s not just one individual,” Regula said. “One person doesn’t accomplish anything without the rest of the commissioners and the staff and the elected officials.”
He is proud to have been a part of the renovation of the county courthouse, the building of the dog warden’s office at the fairgrounds and the construction of the new terminal building at the Neil Armstrong Airport in New Knoxville.
Regula is arguably even more proud of the strong bonds of friendship forged with his
fellow commissioners. He knew John Bergman from the Soil and Water District Board and knew Doug Spencer from a prior primary race.
Regula and Spencer would frequently crack light-hearted jokes with one another, coming from a place of deep respect.
Regula recalled how that started.
“He ran against me one time in the primaries for commissioner and beat me,” Regula said. “(Spencer) was a young school teacher from St. Marys, and I went into that campaign thinking, ‘well, this is going to be a no-brainer — everybody loves Don Regula. He’s gonna walk right in there and beat Doug Spencer.’ I got fooled, Doug Spencer beat me and I thought well that’s the end of my political career.”
Regula said he then found another opportunity to run, win and work with Spencer. All three commissioners became closer than brothers.
Regula said their office assistant, Esther Leffel, and Administrator Erica Preston are some of the greatest people they’ve employed.
“It’s a good team up there in that commissioner’s office,” he said, adding he will miss everything about that job. “I leave that office with a heavy heart,” he said, though he has faith in Bambauer, whom he endorsed during the election process.
Regula said although he has no plans to travel, he will be spending more time with his family and grandchildren.