Trish Bennett, Editor
CIRCLEVILLE – Voters heading to the polls in Pickaway County on Tuesday will see a few small changes intended to streamline the process.
Michele Lockard, director of the Pickaway County Board of Elections, said one change is a combination of precincts and changes in some local polling places, but all voters have already been notified by mail of those changes.
Lockard said signs also will be posted at former polling places that alert voters to the new locations.
“If you’re not sure where your polling location is, you can just call our office or get online and check,” Lockard said.
The Board of Elections can be reached at 740-474-1100 or found online at www.electionsonthe.net/oh/pickaway.
Voters also will find the old paper poll books have been replaced with new electronic tablets for sign-in, Lockard said.
“It won’t affect the voters a whole lot, but the poll workers will now be able to look up voters on the electronic tablets, and they will sign in that way,” Lockard said. “All poll workers have been trained how to use the new tablets, so that’s a pretty big thing.”
Lockard said early voting has been slow most of the season but has definitely picked up within the past week. She said she is hoping that translates to a large voter turnout on Tuesday.
“It’s nice to see people interested in the local elections,” she said.
Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
MUNICIPALITIES:
In Circleville, two people are vying for the mayor’s position, with incumbent Don McIlroy (Republican) facing off against Richard Holmes (Democrat).
City council will see two new faces representing the first and third wards, with unopposed races for the seats representing all four wards in the city. The lone candidates are Julie Strawser, first ward; Barry D. Keller, second ward; Josh Ford, third ward; and Monica Justinger, fourth ward.
Law director Gary D. Kenworthy, auditor Gayle A. Spangler and council president David M. Crawford also are running unopposed for re-election to their positions on Tuesday.
In an unusual move, current third ward councilman Emory Todd Brady chose not to run to retain his current seat but has thrown his hat into the ring for council-at-large against current at-large members Tammy L. Bowers, Dorcas Morrow and Tom E. Spring. With only three seats available and four vying for the spots, that means one current member of council will not return next year.
In Ashville, long-time incumbent mayor Charles K. Wise will face off against council member Brian M. Garvine for the mayor’s position. Current Ashville councilman Nelson R. Embrey III is the only candidate running for two open seats on council this year.
Ashville also has a proposed ordinance/resolution on the ballot for gas aggregation: “Shall the village of Ashville have the authority to aggregate the retail natural gas located in the village of Ashville, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sale and purchase of natural gas, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?”
In Commercial Point, current mayor Joe Hammond chose not to run for re-election, but three other candidates are vying for the seat. Gary A. Joiner, Jim Kuzelka and Randy E. Shelton all are looking to lead the village at the start of the new year.
Commercial Point also has lively council vote on Tuesday’s ballot with four candidates running for just two seats. Candidates for village council are John Capretta, Scott O’Neil, Ben Townsend and Clarence E. Wissinger.
The village of Darbyville had two candidates interested in the mayor’s seat, but incumbent mayor Harold Tackett withdrew from the race, leaving Philip Tramel II as the only candidate on the ballot. The village had no candidates file to fill two seats on village council. (Corrected)
The village of Harrisburg has three candidates vying for the mayor’s position but just one running for the two open seats on council. The mayoral candidates are Scott Lind, Michael A. Lytle and Kathy Sprague. The lone council candidate is Brannon Dawson.
In New Holland, incumbent mayor Clair B. Betzko is running unopposed to retain his position, but no candidates have filed to fill the two open seats on council. The village (including parts of Fayette County) also has a renewal levy on the ballot for current operating expenses, 0.7 mill, 5 years, commencing in 2015; and a renewal levy for general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges, 0.7 mill, 5 years, commencing in 2015.
In South Bloomfield, incumbent mayor Matthew Pettibone is running unopposed, and Jill Roese is the lone candidate filed for two seats on village council. There also are no candidates filed for the village’s Board of Public Affairs.
The village of Tarlton will have some scrambling to do before the new year begins, as it has no candidate for mayor nor for its two seats on village council on Tuesday’s ballot.
In Williamsport, incumbent mayor Edward P. Cox is running unopposed for re-election, as is Sarah E. Carle for clerk-treasurer. Pennie M. McCain is the only person running for two available seats on village council, and Marie Anice Parrett is running for the Board of Public Affairs.
TOWNSHIPS:
Circleville Township: Dale Bower is running unopposed to retain his position as township trustee. Jeffrey R. Palm, fiscal officer, also is running unopposed for re-election.
Darby Township: Incumbent trustee Ned Musselman has two opponents in his bid for re-election. They are Rick Graham of Orient and Clyde Ohnewehr of Mt. Sterling. Mike Graham, fiscal officer, is running unopposed for re-election.
Pleasant-Darby Union Cemetery District (from Madison County): Replacement and increase of 0.5 mill of an existing levy and an increase of 0.5 mill to constitute a tax of 1 mill, maintaining and operating cemeteries, 5 years, commencing in 2015.
Deercreek Township: Running unopposed for their current positions are Charles O. Galloway, township trustee, and Cindy K. Miller, fiscal officer. The township (including the village of Williamsport) also has a renewal levy on the ballot for maintaining and operating cemeteries, 1 mill, 3 years, commencing in 2016.
Harrison Township: (Corrected) Bill Welch and Jim Kuhlwein are vying for the seat currently held by Paul Welsh Jr., who chose not to run for re-election. Mary Ann Elliott is running unopposed to retain her position as fiscal officer.
Jackson Township: Running unopposed to retain their positions are Paul B. Thompson, township trustee, and Barbara A. Knox, fiscal officer.
Madison Township: Running unopposed to retain their positions are Jeff Derr, township trustee, and Connie Swoyer, fiscal officer.
Monroe Township: Incumbent trustee Richard L. Phillips is being challenged in his bid for re-election by Jake Morrison. Vickie Sheets is running unopposed for re-election as fiscal officer.
Muhlenberg Township: Ronald L. Clifton, township trustee, and Kathleen M. Yarsky, fiscal officer, both are running unopposed for re-election.
Perry Township: James R. Peck, township trustee, and Linda E. Mace, fiscal officer, are both running unopposed for re-election.
Pickaway Township: Daryl Rittinger, township trustee, and Brian J. Barr, fiscal officer, are both running unopposed for re-election.
Saltcreek Township: Two candidates are running for the position of township trustee currently held by Robert Noble. The candidates are Joyce A. Fox and Jerry S. Harper. Maxine Imler, fiscal officer, is running unopposed for re-election to her position. The village also has a replacement levy on the ballot that would replace two existing levies at the rate of 0.7 mill and 0.3 mill, providing and maintaining fire protection, 1 mill, continuing period of time, commencing in 2015.
Scioto Township: Three candidates are running for the position of township trustee currently held by Stacey Sark, who chose not to run for re-election. Those candidates are Ronald Jahn, Walter E. Kerschner and John Maynard. Vickie L. Fleming, fiscal officer, is running unopposed for re-election.
Walnut Township: Roger L. Cook, township trustee, and Carol Ramsay, fiscal officer, are both running unopposed for re-election.
Washington Township: Rick Stevens, township trustee, and Karen S. Huffman, fiscal officer, are both running unopposed for re-election.
Wayne Township: William P. Hamman, township trustee, and John D. Hoffman, fiscal officer, are both running unopposed for re-election.
BOARDS OF EDUCATION:
Pickaway County Educational Service Center: Two candidates are running for two seats on the board. They are Richard Everman and Byron B. Welch. Jeanine Leist McDowell also is running to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2017.
Ross-Pike Educational Service Center: Four candidates are running to fill four seats on the board. They are Darrell Cottrill, Dan D. Cryder, Byron M. Lloyd and Thomas G. White. Michelle Free Bowdle also is running to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2017.
Southern Ohio ESC Sub-District 5: Carl Wilt is running to fill a seat on the board.
Circleville City Schools: Three board members are running unopposed for re-election. They are C. Amy DeLong, Richard A. Reeser and Todd N. Stevens. John Moats and Spiros G. Spantithos also are running to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2017.
South-Western City Schools: Melinda Garverick and Randy Reisling are running to fill two seats on the board of education.
Adena Local Schools: Joseph P. Glandon and James E. Lowe are running to fill two seats on the board of education.
Logan Elm Local Schools: The Board of Elections lists “write-in” for the two positions open on the board of education.
Miami Trace Local Schools: Charlie Andrews and Bruce Kirkpatrick are running to fill two available seats on the board of education.
Teays Valley Local Schools: Jimmy Gloyd, Karen Karshner and Bill McGowan are running to fill three available seats on the board of education.
Westfall Local Schools: Judy Cook and Mark A. Ruff are two candidates running to fill three available seats on the board of education. The Board of Elections lists the third position as “write-in.”
STATE ISSUES:
State Issue 1: Creates a bipartisan, public process for drawing legislative districts.
State Issue 2: Anti-monopoly amendment; protects the initiative process from being used for personal economic benefit.
State Issue 3: Grants a monopoly for the commercial production and sale of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
