SHELBY, Ohio – The Richland County Board of Elections unanimously certified petitions for 14 Shelby candidates to appear on the ballot for the May 5 primary election.
Four citywide administrative offices and four councilmember positions in each of the four wards in Shelby will appear on the ballot in May, but only one race will be contested in the primary election. Three candidates are vying for Shelby’s Director of Finance and Public Record: Briton Lash, Cohen Lewis, and Steve Lifer.
“The only truly contested race in Shelby in the primary will be for Finance Director,” said Bill Freytag, deputy director of the Richland County Board of Elections. “The top two vote-getters in that race will move on to November for the final decision.”
Shelby’s current Director of Finance Bob Lafferty will retire in May. Mayor Steve Schag will name a replacement, with confirmation by Shelby City Council, to fill the remainder of Lafferty’s term ending on January 1, 2016 before the winner of the November election begins their term.
Only one other citywide position, in addition to Director of Finance, 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.
Schag was sworn in as Shelby’s new mayor on Dec. 31, 2014 after former mayor Marilyn John was elected as Richland County Commissioner. Shasky had served as a member of council for Ward 2 for three terms but resigned his post on Feb. 9, citing “personal reasons” for his departure.
Other certified petitions for citywide positions in Shelby include 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.
Roub officially retired as Shelby’s chief of police on March 7. On March 2 Roberts was sworn in as Ward 2 councilmember, filling the vacancy left by Shasky’s resignation; Evans also interviewed for the position. Colyer has been vocal at past City Council meetings and attempted to pass a petition to repeal an ordinance reducing Shelby’s tax credit for residents who work outside the city limits.
Freytag explained that all Shelby positions will appear on the May ballot, but with the exception of Director of Finance no races will truly be determined until November.
Shelby voters will also decide whether to allow the Mexican restaurant La Campesina to have Sunday sales. Freytag explained the restaurant currently has a liquor license but cannot sell on Sunday.
Another Shelby issue appearing on the May ballot is a 1.75-mil tax levy for Marvin Memorial Library.
The deadline for voter registration is 9 p.m. on Monday, April 6. Early voting for the May primary begins Tuesday, April 7. In 2011 only 18 percent of voters cast their ballot for the May primaries. Freytag said he expects even less of a turnout this May.
“I hope I’m wrong, but just from the patterns we’ve seen in the last few years even in the bigger elections, for the primaries turnout isn’t there,” he said. “Unfortunately with the few items on the ballot, it will be tough to get the vote out for this election.”
A full list of Richland County candidates and issues appearing on the May primary ballot can be found on the Board of Elections website.
“The only truly contested race in Shelby in the primary will be for Finance Director,” said Bill Freytag, deputy director of the Richland County Board of Elections. “The top two vote-getters in that race will move on to November for the final decision.”
