Thad Lichtensteiger

Thad A. Lichtensteiger became Van Wert County Commissioner on January 1, 2011.  Born and raised in Van Wert County, he is the son of Dean and Janice (Mohr) Lichtensteiger of rural Van Wert.  He is a 1979 graduate of Crestview High School, a 1983 graduate of the Ohio State University with a B.S. in Agriculture, and has completed additional coursework from BGSU in German language.  Lichtensteiger was re-elected to his second term in office, which runs from January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2018.

Before his election to the Commission, Lichtensteiger served for 15 years on the Board of Education for Crestview Local School in Convoy.  He serves as Trustee and Chairman of the Property Committee for the Van Wert County Foundation.  Lichtensteiger serves as Chairman of the Van Wert County Republican Party and represents Harrison Township as a Central Committeeman.  He has also served on numerous Extension and Agricultural organizations and served as an FFA State Officer while at Ohio State.

Lichtensteiger is a partner in a family-owned grain farm with his father, Dean, and youngest son, Luke.

He and his wife, Debra, are the parents of four children: sons, Kirk (Allison) with grandson, Kash; Kory (Mandi) with grandsons, Ayden, Kale, Beau, and Mack; Luke (Kristin) with grandkids, Tate, Mila, Jep, and Colt; and daughter, Carly (Rikki), with grandson Ulrick.  All 4 of his children and grandkids reside in rural Van Wert.

Lichtensteiger and his wife reside in Harrison Township and are members of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy.

Lichtensteiger is excited about his opportunity to serve the public and make a difference!  He has been instrumental in the formation of the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation (VWAEDC), the new City/County Economic Development initiative, as well as their joint efforts in the newly formed Land Bank and the combined Revolving Loan Fund.  Lichtensteiger strives to communicate with other Department Heads for streamlining County efforts and maximizing efficiency, and has been at the forefront of establishing the County IT Department, obtaining substantial savings from independent medical insurance, and transitioning the County’s demographic description from its exhaustive Comprehensive Plan to a much leaner, more informative, and less intrusive Van Wert County Profile!

Lichtensteiger’s current committee and board assignments include EMA, 9-1-1, Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Main Street Van Wert, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and the Community Control Board.