Tuscarawas County is fortunate to have Mike Ernest as a leading candidate and logical choice to succeed Judge Edward O’Farrell as our next Common Pleas Court judge. To build on James A. Range’s excellent summary of Ernest’s legal qualifications (published in the T/R on Aug. 30, 2020), I would like to highlight just a few of Ernest’s contributions to local community efforts — business, recreation, and humanitarian.
Ernest has co-owned and successfully operated The Quaker Theater — a New Philadelphia landmark celebrating its 80th birthday in 2020 — since the mid-1990s (reopening it on Sept. 23, 1997). Ernest has grown the business into a community asset. The Quaker Theater provides affordable, family-friendly entertainment to Tuscarawas County residents and visitors and charitable support via the non-profit Tuscarawas Valley Film Festival (TVFF) — founded in 2017.
As president of the New Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Board, Ernest has championed the role a vibrant city park network plays in community unity and promoting recreational opportunities for all. A career runner, Ernest coordinated a cross-country team for 48 children ages 6 and under and leads other Tuscarawas Valley-area running community events.
Ernest’s information and education-based service Tuscarawas County residents is clearly evident in his participation on both the Tuscarawas County Public Library (TCPL) Board and the Tuscarawas County University Branch District Board.
When someone like Ernest provides active, honest service to a community, it is logical that the individual will apply the same effort to serving common pleas court needs (which, ultimately, impact community health and wellness). I am thankful — as a Tuscarawas County resident and native — that Ernest is willing to serve, if elected, as Tuscarawas County’s next Common Pleas Court Judge.
Tom Adamich
President — Visiting Librarian Service
New Philadelphia
Professor — Technical Services/Reference Librarian
Monroe County Community College
Monroe, MI