Biography:
Bill Frankart is a grain farmer from Seneca County who was elected in November 2022 as Seneca County Commissioner. He will begin his four-year term on January 1, 2023. Frankart has been a farmer for more than 30 years, overseeing all business operations including budgeting, managing employees, equipment maintenance and farm planning. He is known for his fiscal responsibility and conservative approach to decision-making.
Frankart was born and raised in the same house he currently lives in for 52 years and grew up on a farm as the youngest of five siblings. He took over the farm after his father passed away in 1995, and he currently farms grain crops, including corn and soybeans. Frankart also previously raised hogs on the farm. He attended Green Springs Elementary, Clyde High School and Vanguard Career Center, and was once honored as the citizen of the year at Vanguard. He studied Power Equipment and Diesel at Vanguard.
After high school, he worked at Gibbs Equipment in sales for a year before joining the US Department of Agriculture on a part-time basis to measure grain bins in Sandusky County. In 1992, he formed a partnership with his father and brother-in-law to farm together. Since 2011, Frankart has been the sole owner of the farm.
In addition to his work as a farmer, Frankart has served as Adams Township Trustee for 15 years, working closely with the county engineer on drainage and road projects and overseeing maintenance of equipment and township buildings. He has also been an active member of the community, serving as a member of the Seneca County Farm Bureau, a volunteer for the Clyde Young Farmers, and a 4H advisor for more than 25 years. He is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clyde and has been involved with the Clyde FFA as a volunteer. Frankart has also served on the steering committee for county broadband and the committee for Countywide EMS. He is a member of the Republican Century Club and the Seneca County Republicans, serving as the Fair Tent Chair. Frankart has also served as a member of the Seneca County Soil & Water Board and the Seneca County Regional Planning Board in the past.
Frankart married his wife Janet in 2003 and has three children, as well as a 2.5-year-old granddaughter. His goal is to leave Seneca County better than he found it for his children and future generations.
Get to know your commissioner:
Favorite local restaurant: I have a couple of spots I try to go to at least once a week. The Corner Restaurant, there’s a good group of people there who keep you balanced and keep you humbled in understanding how things used to be. Fortunately, we have a lot of great spots in Seneca County and there’s a broad range of options. You see a lot of people from all over. Some others that I like include Madison Street Tavern, Buffalo Wild Wings, Fatheads in Republic and Smokies.
Favorite road in the county: Township Road 32 and CR 6, which I refer to as the Seneca County Highway because it takes you all the way through the county.
Favorite park in the county: Garlo Park, they have a lot going on there. You can go out and enjoy nature and go fishing. I also enjoy Nature Trails Park in Tiffin near Tomb Street.
What aspect of being a commissioner are you most looking forward to: Being a voice for the people and working with them to enhance the county for future generations. We’re all invested in the county. As a farmer, you want to have strong roots, and just like that, we hope to keep people here in Seneca County.
Favorite US Presidents: Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Those two best represent the values I carry with me. I’m a conservative who is working to make ours the best county and the best state, to be the best we can be. We don’t have a lot of say in the federal stuff. Policy-wise, I think those two are the greatest presidents.
Hobbies: Work is my hobby! When you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life. I do enjoy traveling, spending time with family and supporting 4H kids. The thing I carry with me most, we are fortunate to live in the USA.
Interesting fact: One thing some people may not know about my family is that my wife Janet (Geyman) Frankart was an amazing college basketball player right here in Tiffin. She is a member of the Heidelberg Athletic Hall of Fame, inducted with the 1989-1990 Lady Student Princes Basketball Team. Janet’s team was 27-6, going on to win the NCAA Atlantic Regional championship and NCAA quarterfinals before capturing third place at the Division III Final Four.
Favorite music: When you sit in a tractor for hours and hours and hours, you listen to a little bit of everything. I lean toward Country music, and I enjoy listening to the news. Paul Harvey was my favorite broadcaster.
Favorite TV show and/or movie: Dukes of Hazard and Yellowstone. I try not to miss any new episodes of Yellowstone, and I tape them when I can’t watch them live.