[1][2] Fullington was elected Auditor of Union County as a Republican in 1895, and re-elected without opposition in 1898.

As president of the County Auditor's Association of the State of Ohio, he agitated for improvement of methods for keeping public accounts.

Fullington was named chief of this unit when his term as county auditor ended in 1902.

[2] For seven years, beginning 1898, Fullington served in the Ohio National Guard, including service throughout the Spanish–American War in Puerto Rico as Major and quartermaster.

[3] Edward M. Fullington was married to Ida Irvin Matthews in Dayton, Ohio November 25, 1891, and had two sons.