The Richland County Board of Developmental Disabilities board has a new member.

William Hartnett was sworn in Wednesday by Richland County Commissioner Gary Utt at the board's 2013 reorganizational meeting.

The commissioners appointed Hartnett to a four-year term that runs through Dec. 31, 2016.  He fills a vacancy left by the departure of James Hull, whose term ended in December.
 

Hartnett has a long history of community service.  He is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, serving from 1998 to 2006.

The former teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent also served as vice-president of North Central State College and as an adjunct faculty member at Ashland University.  Harnett was appointment by Gov. Ted Strickland as the first director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.  A Korean War navy veteran, he was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2011.

The commissioners reappointed Board Members Geneva Cummins and Nick Gesouras to their second four-year term.
  

Cummins was also elected board president for the second straight year.  Gabe DeSantis was re-elected vice-president while Virginia Harmon remains as the board’s secretary.