Dog-loving Krissi Fussner announces bid for 2026 Ashland County commissioner run

ASHLAND — A former Ashland County Dog Shelter staffer has decided to run for county commissioner.

Kristin “Krissi” Fussner, 55, pulled paperwork from the Ashland County Board of Elections last week. The political newcomer intends to run on as an independent against current Commissioner Denny Bittle, whose term expires Dec. 31, 2026.

Running as an independent means the candidate will need to collect 183 signatures by May 4, 2026. If verified, her name will appear on the November 2026 ballot.

She said she decided to put her name in the hat now so she could begin introducing herself as a candidate.

“I want to start talking with people, seeing what their concerns are,” she said. “But I also love learning and researching. So I’m diving into things and learning how all this works.”

Fussner works currently at Color Sanctuary Salon & Spa in Ashland, delivers packages for Amazon and runs a nonprofit dog rescue. A native of Medina County, she’s lived in Ashland County for 22 years.

Fussner began volunteering as a dog walker at the Ashland County Dog Shelter in 2010. It was that experience that led her and two others to found No Pawz Left Behind, a nonprofit that works to secure medical needs for stray dogs.

She then founded Mercy’s Door Pet Rescue in 2012. And from 2018 to 2022, she worked in various roles for the dog shelter. She resigned in June 2022 as the shelter’s deputy dog warden and kennel manager.

“So obviously, dogs are my background,” she said.

Fussner said she has been observing issues stemming from the new dog shelter for a couple years.

“I’ve been hearing people voicing their concerns and opinions. Everyone wants change, but there was nobody stepping up to try it … so I finally just made the decision,” she said.

Fussner, a registered Democrat, said she hopes that running as an independent means a Republican-voting population hears her out. She said her household growing up voted Democrat, and that’s how she registered at age 18.

“But my views have changed,” she said. “I don’t follow one party — whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, I listen to everyone.”

What’s her platform?

Fussner said she’d like to bring more transparency to how the dog shelter operates. She said she was part of initial planning for the new dog shelter, which became operational in September 2023.

“So I was privy to what was originally in the plans, and what got taken out. A lot of people are still upset about that,” she said.

But the dog shelter is one piece to Fussner’s campaign puzzle, which is still taking shape, she said.

“I don’t come from politics and campaigning. I’m somebody just like everyone else. I’m willing to give it a try and to do the research on what is involved in being a commissioner and I’m going to give my 110% shot at it,” she said.