Leadership Shift in Brown Township Following Loss of Gary Dever
Trustees Appoint Former Hilliard Councilman Pete Marsh to Fill Dever’s Unexpired Term
Jimmy Carter was in the White House when Gary Dever began his life of public service to the residents of Brown Township as an elected trustee.
For nearly half a century, Dever continued to serve Brown Township residents who elected to serve on the Brown Township Board of Trustees.
Those responsibilities now rest on the shoulders of former Hilliard City Councilman Pete Marsh, who at a special meeting on March 28 was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Dever, who passed away March 21 at the age of 84, at his residence.
Dever had served as a Brown Township Trustee for 47 years.
Marsh is familiar with Brown Township as a member of the steering committee for the Brown Township Comprehensive Plan update, a task he undertook upon the completion of his service on Hilliard City Council and to continue his life of public service.
“I wasn’t looking for anything else but a number of individuals encouraged me to consider filling the vacant seat… I decided to make myself available to that and am honored that the other Brown Township Trustees chose to select me for the role,” Marsh said March 30.
“Gary is a guy who really can’t be replaced. His experience, local knowledge, and decades of service will be greatly missed,” Marsh said.
Dever’s term was to end Dec. 31 and he was contemplating seeking re-election but was taking a little more time to make a final decision, according to Brown Township Trustee Pam Sayre.
Dever was the chair of the board of trustees; Joe Martin is the vice-chair.
Trustees are expected to act on April 21 to name a new chair.
Marsh was appointed to Hilliard City Council in 2017.
In 2019, Marsh was elected to a four-year term but lost a re-election bid in 2023 when he and two Republican challengers all fell short to a Democrat incumbent and two Democrat candidates.
Sayre said it was important to Brown Township trustees that they- and not a Franklin County judge- determine Dever’s successor.
According to Ohio Revised Code, if an elected official is removed from office for any reason, and that local government does not fill it within 30 days, a judge can make an appointment.
Brown Township trustees met in an executive session, or closed meeting, on March 28 to discuss the appointment.
Ohio Revised Code permits limited exception to the Open Meetings Act, or Sunshine Law, requiring that government bodies meet publicly.
Those exceptions include the discussion of pending litigation, real estate transaction, and in this instance, the hire, dismissal, discipline, or appointment of a public official.
“There were certain qualities that were needed and Pete fit the bill,” said Sayre, adding that no one had contacted her or Martin to express an advance interest in being appointed.
“One thing we did not want was for the position to be decided by a judge should we not be able to agree (on an appointment). We could agree on Pete,” Sayre said.
Marsh would need to stand election in November to begin a new term Jan. 1, 2026.
The filing deadline for any candidate seeking the seat is Aug. 6.
Marsh has not decided whether he will seek election.
“While I am unsure at this time if I want to stand for election to retain the seat after this year, I very much look forward to working with Pam (Sayre) and Joe (Martin) for at least the remainder of the year,” Marsh said.
Marsh said he hopes, as a resident of incorporated Hilliard, to bring a “new perspective” to the board of trustees “while sharing the hopes of many long-term (Brown Township) residents for respecting the natural and agriculture heritage of the area,” Marsh said.
Dever, 84, lived the entirety of his life in Brown Township.
Born on Nov. 10, 1940, he attended Hilliard High School where he played basketball and baseball for the Wildcats and met his wife, Sophie Phares.
They married in 1961 and were married 62 years until her death last year.
Dever served on the Franklin County Fair Board for more than 50 years, including as president, on the Franklin County Board of Zoning Appeals for more than 30 years, and other advisory bodies.
Dever and his brother, Scott, were also longtime family farm operators.
He is survived by his daughter, Gay Sowers (Wayne Hummel), brother, Scott Dever (Ann Nagle), grandchildren Brandon and Dylan Sowers and Jordan and Brooklyn Dever, great-granddaughter, Mary Lee Sowers, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of Dever’s life will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at Brown Township Fire Station 82, 2491 Walker Road.