RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio – Richland County voters will cast their ballots in the primary elections on Tuesday, May 5.
“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 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.
Running for Mansfield council-at-large are Don Bryant and Chris Elswick.
“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.
Republicans Sherry Lynn Branham and Mark Weidemyre are competing for the third ward in Ontario.
And in Shelby, Briton C. Lash, Steve Lifer and Cohen Lewis are nonpartisan candidates on the ballot for the director of finance seat. According to the city charter, Shelby races are nonpartisan.
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.
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.”
There are a number of issues on the primary ballot including an income tax increase for Mansfield; a levy for the Marvin Memorial Library; liquor sales in Ontario, Mansfield, and Shelby; iand Frank and Monroe townships; and Crestline schools. For a full list of Richland County candidates and issues appearing on the May primary ballot, visit the Board of Elections website.
