Trish Bennett, Editor
CIRCLEVILLE – A lack of opposition in local government races means candidates will not appear on the election ballot May 5, but several issues will be decided by voters in areas of Pickaway County.
Issues include the proposed charter for the city of Circleville for providing a council-manager form of government; the renewal of an income tax levy and renewal of a property tax levy for the Logan Elm Local School District; and a construction bond issue and an additional tax levy for the Miami Trace Local School District (an overlap from Fayette County).
The deadline for partisan candidates to run for city offices expired Wednesday, with most current office holders filing to maintain their seats without opposition. Those include Gary Kenworthy (R), law director; Gayle Spangler (R), auditor; David M. Crawford (D), president of council; Tammy Bowers (D), Dorcas Morrow (R) and Tom Spring (R), council-at-large; Mike Logan (R), first ward council; Barry Keller (R), second ward council; and Monica Justinger (D), fourth ward council.
Republican candidate Josh Ford also met the party filing deadline to run for third ward council, the seat currently held by Todd Brady.
Brady has not yet filed to retain his seat, but as an Independent, he has until the day before the election (May 4) to file. In a phone interview Friday, Brady said he intends to file sometime next week. The two will then face off on the November ballot.
The deadline for write-in candidates is Feb. 23.
The Circleville mayor’s race also will head to the ballot in November, with incumbent Don McIlroy (R) facing challenger Richard Holmes (D) for the office.
Several mayoral and village council races, along with township trustees, school board members and the Pickaway County Educational Service Center, also will go to the ballot in November, according to the Pickaway County Board of Elections, but since those positions are non-partisan, the deadline to file for the November general election is Aug. 5.
The unofficial list of candidates and issues will be certified at 2 p.m. Feb. 11 by the Pickaway County Board of Elections.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
