MANSFIELD — Several local tax issues and a contested Republican race for a Richland County commissioners’ seat headline the May 3 primary election ballot.
The filing deadline for local candidates and issues with county Board of Elections was Wednesday at 4 p.m.
“The petitions have to be verified by our board and certified to the ballot at our next board meeting on Feb. 8 at 10 a.m.,” said county elections board director Matt Finfgeld.
“We are still in the process of checking and verifying the petitions which were filed late this afternoon, so we’re not sure if they will meet all the requirements at this time.”
The filing deadline for write-in candidates is Feb. 22 at 4 p.m.
There will be a contested race among Republican voters for the county commissioner seat currently held by Cliff Mears, who was appointed by the party in January 2021 to fill the unexpired term of Marilyn John.
Mears, a Mansfield resident, is being challenged by David Morgenstern, a Lexington resident who gained 30 percent of the GOP vote in 2020 when he ran in the primary against Commissioner Tony Vero.
No Democratic Party candidates filed to run for the seat.
Based upon the filings, there will be two countywide elected offices contested in November.
Republican Beth Allen Owens of Mansfield and Democrat Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner of Lexington both filed petitions for Domestic Relations Court judge. Incumbent Judge Heather Cockley announced previously she will not seek another term.
Incumbent Richland County Common Pleas Court Brent Robinson, a Republican from Lexington, was the only candidate to file for the seat. Incumbent county Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley from Bellville, also a Republican, was also the only candidate to file for that seat.
Long-time county auditor Pat Dropsey of Mansfield, who switched to the Republican Party in 2021, will be opposed in November by Democrat Christopher McDevitt of Lexington.
John, a Shelby resident, was the only candidate to file for the Ohio House 77th District seat. The Republican was first elected to the seat in 2020.
Here are the tax issues scheduled for the primary ballot:
— Lucas Local School District — 37-year, 9-mill bond issue to construct and improve school facilities.
— Madison Local School District — 5-year, 6.9-mill renewal levy for current expenses.
— Ontario Local School District — 10-year, 10.2-mill renewal levy to avoid an operating deficit.
— Plymouth-Shiloh Local School District — 5-year, 3.9-mill renewal levy to avoid operating deficit.
— South Central Local School District — 5-year, 2.5-mill renewal levy and increase for general improvements.
— Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools — 5-year, 0.8-mill renewal levy for current expenses.
— City of Mansfield — 4-year, 0.25-percent additional income for parks capital improvements.
