While next year’s presidential election will get a lot of attention, there are a handful of local elections of note for 2020.
Wednesday was the deadline for local candidates to file for the March 17, 2020 primary election.
Independent candidates filing for either position must file by March 16, 2020. The general election will be held Nov. 2, 2020. Board of Elections Director Brandon Clay said candidates and issues are unofficial until the board meets later today to certify petitions and applications.
A total of eight candidates will vie to fill the two vacant commissioner seats. Current county commissioners Steve Stolte and Charles Hall have each announced their retirement. Stolte and Hall have separate seats. Stolte’s seat takes office Jan. 2. Hall’s replacement will take office Jan. 3.
Republicans Jerry McClary, J.R. Rausch, Steve D. Robinson, Andrew C. Smarra (son of current treasurer, Andrew Smarra) and Kim Zacharias will face off in the primary. The winner will face Democrat Tony Eufinger, who is unopposed in the primary, in November to fill Stolte’s seat.
Republicans Dave Burke and Rod Goddard will face each other in the March primary to fill Hall’s seat. No democrat has filed for the seat.
In the race to for Clerk of Courts, Republicans Kellie M. Carson and Danielle Sullivan will face each other in the March. The primary winner will face unopposed Democrat Leighann Merriman Moots. Current clerk of courts Teresa L. Nickle is not seeking reelection.
A trio of Republicans — Beth Robinson Marshall, Salvatore Petrovia and Karen J. Riffle — are running for the county recorder. No democrat has filed for the position. Teresa Markham, the current recorder, is not running for the position again.
Sharon K. Robinson Walls and Rick Rodger will face each other in the Republican primary for probate/juvenile/judge. No democrat has filed for the position. Judge Charlotte Coleman Eufinger is not seeking another term.
Incumbents David W. Phillips, county prosecutor, Malcum J. Patton, sheriff, Andrew Smarra, treasurer, Jeff Stauch, engineer, David T. Applegate II, coroner, and Don W. Fraser, common pleas court judge, are all unopposed in the March primary. No democrat has filed for any of the positions.
Republicans Melissa Ackison and William F. Reineke, Jr. will face each other in the primary with the winner taking on Democrat Craig Swartz for the 26th District’s seat in the Ohio Senate.
Republican Tracy Richardson and Democrat Tiffanie Roberts will face each other in November for State Representative in the 86th District.
Additionally, residents in Dover, Millcreek and Jerome townships will vote on tax levies to support their respective fire departments. Jerome Township voters will also decide a zoning referendum. A local liquor option to allow Sunday sales at a proposed Texas Roadhouse is on the ballot in Marysville.
Board officials also reminded residents they need to register to vote if they haven’t already. The deadline to register to vote in the March primary is by Feb. 18, 2020. Clay said the board office would stay open until 9 p.m. that day to give as many potential voters a last-minute opportunity to register.
Early voting begins the next day, Feb. 19, 2020, at the board office.
Clay said the board of elections is always looking for additional poll workers. He said anyone interested in helping or wanting more information is invited to contact the office — 835 E. Fifth St., Suite A, Marysville — or call the office at (937) 642-2836.