Muskingum County Commissioner Crooks Retires

ZANESVILLE, OH – Muskingum County Commissioner Mollie Crooks is retiring from politics.

Thursday, Jan. 2nd 2025, marked the end of Crooks’ 8 years behind the commissioner’s desk.

She said it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve Muskingum County and hopes more young women follow in her footsteps. Crooks said she originally wasn’t interested in politics but knew she wanted to help better the community she was born and raised in.

“What I had a keen interest in is my community,” Crooks explained. “I would get really impatient with people that wanted to pick apart our community or talk about all the things that were negative and granted, we have our challenges every community does. But I also believe that if there’s opportunities to be a greater community, more dynamic, more vibrant, that’s what I saw. So I saw this position as a way that I could help perpetuate that and be a part of all of the good things that I saw.”

Crooks said her retirement is bittersweet. She said she’s enjoyed having a say when it came to bringing new projects and improvements to the city.

But, also said she’s looking forward to taking some time for herself to relax and recuperate.

“I will totally miss being on the inside track, you know, knowing what’s going on and having a part and a voice in all of that,” Crooks said. “But I’m also celebrating, I’ve had a 50 year career in this community, because of this community. I was educated here, lived here, my kids, my grandkids, my great-grandkids, you know they’re all here. I know there’s so much more possibility for what’s going to happen here and I’m excited and proud of our community, and I’m sure you’re going to see me somewhere.”

Drake Prouty will officially assume the County Commissioner seat being left open by Crooks, on Jan. 3rd.