MANSFIELD — The longest, oddest election cycle in Ohio history came to an end on Tuesday with strong performances by two Richland County Republican county commissioners and a Democratic Party race for probate court judge that is too close to call.
According to final, unofficial vote totals from the Richland County Board of Elections, Commissioner Marilyn John won the Republican Party primary race for the 2nd Ohio House seat.
Fellow Commissioner Tony Vero was re-elected for a second team on the county board.
2020 Richland County primary election unofficial results
But there are still ballots left to count, according to local elections officials, who said voter turnout was less than half of what Richland County saw in the 2016 presidential primary election.
Richland County Board of Elections Director Paulette Hankins said Tuesday night that 214 provisional votes were cast and 1,887 absentee ballots were issued, but not returned yet.
“We have no way of knowing how many of those 1,887 will come back within the 10-day period and will be postmarked by April 27,” she said.
The board will meet May 12 at 3 p.m. to verify/validate the provisional ballots and rule on the late, but eligible, absentees to add in with the official Results.
The board will then meet again on May 19 to certify the results of the final, official totals.
The strange election cycle, which began with candidates filing petitions last year, took an odd turn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Late on March 16, hours before in-person voting was to begin, state health director Dr. Amy Acton ordered the polls to remain closed, citing the virus outbreak.
Frank LaRose, the state’s first-term secretary of state, then sent a directive to county boards of election, ordering them to extend absentee balloting and prep for a June 2 in-person election day.
On March 21, LaRose offered the plan to lawmakers in his “Ohio Voters 1st Act,” saying June 2 is the earliest date by which the election could be concluded in a way that preserves “the integrity of our election.”
However, state lawmakers had their own ideas. According to the plan approved by the Ohio House and Senate, the March 17 primary was not “cancelled,” only extended to April 28.
Here is what was known Tuesday night:
Ohio House 2nd District
According to final, unofficial totals from the Richland County Board of Elections, John received 69 percent of ballots counted. John had 7,431 votes compared to 3,268 for Martin, a Shelby City Council member.
The 2nd District represents all of Richland County in Columbus, a seat vacated by Romanchuk, who was prevented from seeking another term due to term limits.
“I am excited about the results,” John said.
“I think for Tony (Vero) and I specifically, what was most difficult was we were still working full-time jobs as commissioners, trying to deal with a pandemic that was difficult to understand and changing every day, and still trying to run campaigns,” the former Shelby mayor said Tuesday night.
“This was a different campaign than anything we have run before. (After the statewide stay-at-home order), we couldn’t go out and knock on doors so personal contact with voters was very difficult. The last four weeks have been challenging from that aspect,” John said.
“Elections are very humbling experiences. So to have the confidence and support of the residents of this county is very humbling and we don’t take it lightly,” she said.
John will likely face Democrat Sam Grady in November. Grady bested Carline Curry, 119-73, in a battle of two write-in candidates.
If John wins, she will leave office at the end of December with two years left on her term as commissioner. The Richland County Republican Party would select someone to complete her term. John said she has already had people reach out to her expressing an interest in the seat if she wins in November.
Richland County commissioner
Vero appears to have won a second term in office after earning 70 percent of votes counted on Tuesday. According to final, unofficial totals from the Richland County Board of Elections, Vero received 7,152 votes, compared to 3,109 for challenger David Morgenstern.
There was no Democratic candidate, so Vero and fellow Republican Commissioner Darrell Banks will likely remain on the board with new terms in January.
“This (extended campaign) was probably harder on my wife, Melanie, than me,” Vero said Tuesday night. “She knows I am a pretty competitive person, so an extended campaign required another several weeks of focus.”
Vero said selecting the right person to replace John on the three-member board of commissioners will be essential.
“We have instituted a lot of changes in the last three years and we are not naive enough to think we have upset some people and it has come at a political cost,” he said.
“We have shown we will make the tough decisions, even if it costs us votes in the end. It’s crucial we (replace John) with someone who wll keep the ball and the momentum going forward,” Vero said.
Richland County Probate Court judge
The Democratic Party race to replace Judge Phillip Mayer appeared too close to call on Tuesday night.
Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner received 148 votes more than her opponent, Joe Jerger. Pscholka-Gartner had 2,744 votes, compared to 2,596 for Jerger.
The eventual winner will face Republican Kelly Badnell in November. She was unopposed in the primary.
Trump, Biden win in Richland County
Republican President Donald J. Trump, unopposed on the ballot, received 10,198 votes counted on Tuesday.
Democratic challenger Joe Biden received 4,325 votes, easily besting Bernie Sanders (808 votes), who has suspended his own campaign. Michael Bloomberg (201) and Elizabeth Warren (164), both of whom have dropped out of the race, finished third and fourth, respectively, in Richland County.
Bellville tax levy renewed
Voters in the Village of Bellville approved the renewal of a five-year, 3-mill tax for village operations. There were 256 votes in favor of the issue and 113 against.
Mayor Teri Brenkus said the tax funds expenses such as street lighting, park expenses and maintenance in the village hall.
Liquor options split in Mansfield
Voters in Mansfield 5-A approved a request from Cypress Hill Winery, LLC, at 51 E. Fourth St. in Mansfield to sell wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor on Sundays between 10 a.m. and midnight. The request was approved, 64-39.
Voters in Mansfield 1-F rejected the same request by 7-Eleven at 2264 S. Main St. It failed, 118-107.
COVID-19 IMPACT
Vote totals were well off the numbers from the 2016 presidential primary election cycle.
Hankins reported just 21.16 percent of the county’s eligible voters cast ballots with 16,904 of 79,891 registered voters participating.
In 2016, 43.95 percent of eligible voters went to the polls with 35,420 votes cast out of 80,585 registered.
