Oak Glen Football Head Coach Ted Arneault announced his resignation from his coaching position and his intention to seek the Clay District seat on the Hancock County Commission on Thursday. Arneault has served as Head Coach of the Golden Bears since 2015 and his 2019 team is remembered for earning an OVAC title during an undefeated regular season achieving a record not seen by the school since 1965. Arneault will be remembered as a coach who stressed family and brought about a culture change in the team.
Arneault, who will remain in his position as a teacher at Oak Glen High School, will file on the Republican ticket. To date, Brett Lemley and incumbent Paul Cowey have expressed their intent to file on the Republican ticket. No candidate has emerged on the Democratic ticket.
While many see public service as a challenge during these difficult times, Arneault views it as an opportunity.
“I believe the County Commission is a great opportunity for service-focused leadership,” said Arneault. “I believe the Commission should be focused on collaboration with government on the local, State and National levels. Now is the time for action to strengthen the partnerships between government, business and the citizens of Hancock County. I want to bring a positive culture and a shared sense of duty to the commission and our community. Mostly, I want to try and find opportunity to keep the young people who have come through the school system here in the county by facilitating economic growth.”
Arneault stressed he would work with the current members of the Commission to promote what the County has to offer to businesses that could potentially call Hancock County home.
A West Virginian by choice, has resided in the area for 30 years. He is a 2001 graduate of Forest Hills High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan; earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Michigan State University; and his Ohio and West Virginia Teaching Certificates from Franciscan University. In 2010 he received his master’s degree in Education and currently has 80 graduate credits towards his West Virginia Principal and Superintendent’s license,
“West Virginia has been a home to me for many years. I was here through almost every summer of my childhood through my college years,” said Arneault. “My family has made their home here as well. My grandfather, Harvey Arneault, helped build the turbine engines in the power stations when he was working for General Electric in the 1950’s. When I moved here my Father, my sister and my uncle’s family had all made their home here.”
A political science major in College, Arneault traces his interest in public policy to his childhood.
“Since I was a kid, I have shadowed many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle,” he said. “I have a keen interest in the values and history that have brought us together as Americans and West Virginians. I’ve also seen the bumpy path that the current path of climate of political discourse has brought us. I believe I can offer a skillset that will be a productive addition to the Commission.”
Arneault began his career as a teacher at Madonna High School. The position evolved into teacher, coach and administrator. He then joined Oak Glen’s High’s teaching staff and was named head coach
“I love living and working in the Ohio Valley,” said Arneault who is a New Cumberland area resident. “Hancock County is already a great place to live, but we must work proactively to mitigate the tides of economic decline. With the right catalysts, Hancock County could be a place for people to live who are looking for a free and comfortable lifestyle.”
“I hope we will continue to research ideas to develop the beautiful land we have, while simultaneously attract the outside resources to develop opportunities for meaningful economic growth,” Ensuring that young families choose to make their homes in the County is an important priority for Arneault, especially given the uncertain economic climate. “We must roll with the tides of economic uncertainty by enhancing the infrastructure and building catalysts for entrepreneurship and growth. With hard work and a hopeful aspect, we can make Hancock County a wellspring of economic recovery.”