'Necessary to address my alcoholism': Brian Gernert resigns as Bucyrus law director

Brian Gernert has resigned as Bucyrus Law Director.

Gernert made the announcement Friday in a letter to city officials.

"After much reflection over the past two weeks, it has become apparent that I can no longer dedicate the time and energy necessary to providing legal services to the city of Bucyrus as I work through the treatment necessary to address my alcoholism," Gernert wrote. "Thus, with a heavy heart, I hereby resign as director of law for the city of Bucyrus, effective immediately. I truly appreciated working together with all of you for the betterment of the city of Bucyrus."

Gernert was appointed as interim law director in October 2021 , then earned the position in the next election as the Republican candidate .

Three drunk-driving arrests in three years

In May 2022, Gernert was driving his SUV in Bucyrus around 10 p.m. when another driver called 911 to alert police to a possible intoxicated driver. The caller saw an SUV veer into a ditch, strike a utility pole and drive away. A Crawford County Sheriff's deputy located Gernert’s vehicle and noticed it had sustained heavy damage to the passenger side.

Gernert told the deputy he only had a "drink or two." The deputy attempted to have Gernert perform a field sobriety test, but Gernert lost his balance during the gaze test and was arrested.

Gernert refused to take a breathalyzer test and was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and refusal to submit to chemical testing. He pleaded guilty .

Four months later, an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper saw Gernert’s SUV weaving as he drove through Bucyrus around 11:30 p.m. He pulled Gernert over. The man again failed field sobriety tests and was arrested .

Gernert pleaded guilty to his second OVI in November 2022.

The Supreme Court of Ohio, in May of this year, issued Gernert a two-year, fully stayed suspension .

Gernert, this summer, again was arrested in Seneca County on suspicion of drunk driving . His next pretrial is scheduled for Oct. 18.

Voters will elect new law director next spring

Brandon Gobrecht was appointed as interim Bucyrus law director Aug. 23 while Gernert was jailed in Seneca County.

Gobrecht will temporarily continue serving as interim law director, according to Bruce Truka, mayor of Bucyrus.

Now that Gernert has resigned, it will be up to the county's Republican central committee to name his extended replacement.

More: Brandon Gobrecht named interim law director; Brian Gernert taken for inpatient treatments

"They will probably convene here within the next week or so, I would presume," Truka said.

City residents will then get to select a new law director on their ballots next spring.

"There won't be any special election," Truka said. "It would be a part of the primary election in 2025."

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: 'Necessary to address my alcoholism': Brian Gernert resigns as Bucyrus law director