Stow Law Director to Run for Re-Election

Law Director Brian Reali pulled his petitions this week to run for re-election in November.

Reali, 40, is in his first term and fourth year as law director. Stow has limits as to how long a law director can be in office, which means if re-elected in November, it would be Reali's last four-year term.

"I love my job, the people I work with and my friends and neighbors here [in Stow]," said Reali. "If I did not like it ... I wouldn't do it. I think it is an important job and you can do a lot of good for the community here."

While the job can be challenging at times, Reali said it is "rewarding to deal with a wide range of issues from administrative/management, to unique ares of the law."

Not every city has an elected law director, but Reali thinks it's important that he is voted in by the residents of the city.

"I like the fact of being independent and not working for the mayor or City Council," he said. "I don't have to worry about pleasing a supervisor, I can do and say what I think is in the city's best interest and not have to worry about towing the company line."

If re-elected, Reali said his goal is to leave Stow in better place than it is now. He would also like to make the office more digital.

"We are the first law department to work with the new ," Reali said. "So we saw an increased internal client base (judges and clerk) as well as dealing with more law enforcement because I prosecute for the townships, so getting those issues squared away was our first priority and we have been successful. But dealing with those multiple police agencies ... there is always ways to improve those relationships and streamline those processes."

Reali's Experience and Education Background:

• The law director is an undergraduate of Mount Union College and has a law degree from the University of Akron and is a Judge Advocate Generals' Officer basic and advanced courses. 
• Reali was an investigator for the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office, he was the assistant prosecuting attorney for Coshocton County and was a Stow's deputy law director for eight years. He is in his fourth year as Stow's law director.
• Military experience: Since 2000, Reali has been in the Ohio Army National Guard. He served two active duty tours for about two years since 2005 in Kosovo and Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Katrina. He is currently the Staff Judge Advocate for the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team with the Ohio Army National Guard.
• a major and assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters.
• The law director makes about $78,500 annually.

Brian and his wife, Laurie, live in Stow with their four children.

Stow elections are non-partisan. For more information, email Reali at breali@stow.oh.us.

For more on Stow's law department, see a story when Stow Patch announces the . She begins working Monday morning.