RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio – As Richland County voters prepare to cast their ballots in the primary elections on May 5, the Richland County Board of Elections warns that this year’s primaries have created the “perfect storm” of confusion.
“In the five years I’ve been here this is the most confusing primary I’ve seen,” said Bill Freytag, Deputy Director at the Richland County Board of Elections. “It’s a strange scenario.”
Two major cities will only see one party on the ballot. In Mansfield, voters will only have two options heading to the polls: a Democratic ballot or an issues-only ballot. In Ontario, the options are the opposite: a Republican ballot or an issues-only ballot.
“In Mansfield there were no contested races on the Republican side, so they’re not even on the ballot in the primary,” said Freytag. “The councilman-at-large race triggered a primary for the Democratic side.
“In Ontario it’s just the opposite of Mansfield; they’ve got a Republican race going on in Ontario’s third ward so they can vote a Republican ballot but not a Democratic ballot,” he said.
Mansfield’s councilman-at-large race, Ontario’s third ward councilman race and Shelby’s Director of Finance race are the only three races that will be decided once the votes are cast on May 5.
In Mansfield, Democrats Don Bryant and Chris Elswick will compete to move on to the general election for councilman-at-large. In Ontario, Republicans Sherry Lynn Branham and Mark Weidemyre are vying for candidacy for Ontario’s third ward councilman. In Shelby, the top two vote-getters between Director of Finance candidates Briton Lash, Cohen Lewis and Steve Lifer will move on to the November ballot.
More candidates will appear on the May primary ballot but only the three races mentioned above will be contested in May. In Mansfield the entire Democratic lineup will appear on the ballot though the majority will appear unopposed – including Ron Abrams, the Democrat poised to take on Republican Tim Theaker for the Mansfield mayoral election.
Other Democrats appearing unopposed on the primary ballot are Phillip Scott for President of Council, John Spon for Director of Law, and Norval Blackwell, Walden Jefferson and Garnetta Pender for council positions. With the exception of Jefferson, who will run unopposed, all Democratic candidates will face Republican challengers in the November election.
In Ontario, the only candidates appearing on the ballot are Branham and Weidemyre, so only residents in Ontario’s third ward need to vote in the primary. Freytag said only polls in Ontario’s third ward would even be open on May 5.
“There are more than 40 precincts that won’t even open because there’s nothing to vote on,” explained Freytag. “But you’re not missing out because there’s nothing to vote on where you live.”
Though there is only one contested race for Director of Finance in Shelby, all candidates will appear on the May primary ballot. Freytag explained this is because according to the city charter, Shelby races are nonpartisan.
“It doesn’t decide the election, they’ll be voted on again in November,” said Freytag. “Almost like a dry run, but I don’t like it like that. They should just go through, but the way the law reads we have to put them on [the ballot] regardless of whether there’s a contested race.”
Only one other citywide position will be contested in the November race – the office of mayor will be decided between current sitting mayor Steve Schag and former councilmember Harold Shasky. The two other citywide positions in Shelby are uncontested, including Gordon Eyster for director of law and Steve McLaughlin for councilmember at large.
In Shelby’s four wards, only Ward 3 will be an uncontested race in November, as Councilmember Garland Gates will run unopposed. In Ward 1 incumbent Pat Carlisle will run against former Shelby Police Chief Charlie Roub. In Ward 2 recently appointed Councilmember Derrin Roberts will run against Shelby resident Keith Evans. In Ward 4 incumbent Nathan Martin will challenge Shelby resident Chris Colyer.
Only Mansfield, Ontario and Shelby have candidates appearing on the May primary ballot. Freytag noted the ballot will look very different come November.
“In the fall the school boards run, the township trustees, the fiscal officers…there will be a lot on the ballot in the fall compared to the primary,” said Freytag.
There were 89,075 registered voters in Richland County during last year’s primary election on May 6, 2014 – only 10,350 votes were cast, resulting in an 11.62 percent turnout. Freytag fears an even lower turnout for this year’s primary.
“It’s usually always less in the primary, some people don’t want to be affiliated with either party so they only vote in the general election,” said Freytag. “I hate to think what it will be like this year with just the few candidates in the county. We’re hoping for a 15 to 20 percent turnout.”
A full list of Richland County candidates and issues appearing on the May primary ballot can be found on the Board of Elections website.
“In the five years I’ve been here this is the most confusing primary I’ve seen,” said Bill Freytag, Deputy Director at the Richland County Board of Elections. “It’s a strange scenario.”
