PUCO chief to leave post

January 15, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Another agency head appointed by Gov. John Kasich is leaving his post.

Todd Snitchler, who became head of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in 2011, confirmed Tuesday he will not seek reappointment. His last day will be April 10, when his current term ends.

Kasich indicated in a statement Tuesday that he had hoped Snitchler would reapply for the position.

PUCO is accepting applications for the soon-to-be-vacant seat, with a deadline for submissions later this week.

Snitchler, a Republican from Uniontown, was in his second term in the Ohio House when Kasich appointed him to lead the 320-person regulatory agency, overseeing rules and policy decisions related to electricity, natural gas and other utilities.

While serving in the Legislature, he was head of the House’s public-utilities committee.

Snitchler’s announcement came a week after Scott Nally, head of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, stepped down from his position.

And in October, Michael Colbert resigned as director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.