Local Elections

Local attorney Edith A. Gilliland on Thursday announced her candidacy for Richland County Juvenile Court judge.

MADISON -- Madison voters knew even before the election they would reset the school district's board of education with vacancies left board president Jeff Meyer and BOE member John Leudy.

BELLVILLE — Incumbent board members Lori McKee and Gary McCue secured the votes to finish two unexpired terms on the Clear Fork Valley Local School District’s board of education.

Voters across Richland County were in a giving mood on Tuesday, approving more than a dozen tax issues in various townships.

Republican incumbent Tim Theaker earned his third and final term as Mansfield's mayor on Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger Don Bryant.

Incumbents John Hart and Debra Noble each retained their seats, while fresh face Kevin Ray Echelberry just etched out a victory, according to unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections.

The quickly-growing Village of Lexington will have a new mayor for the first time in 34 years. Brian White, defeated Eugene Parkinson with 81 more votes, according to unofficial results published by the Richland County Board of Elections.

ONTARIO — Residents of the Ontario Local School District passed a 5-year, 6.9 mill operating levy on Tuesday night. 

Republican Cliff Mears won the race Tuesday to become the next Mansfield City Council president. But Democrats had a big day on Tuesday and will hold six of nine seats when the next term begins.

The city of Shelby elected candidates for the second ward seat on Shelby City Council, the director of finance and public record for the city, and two seats on the Shelby Board of Education.

Two incumbents will remain on the Mansfield City School Board to help show the newly elected Lind Golden the ropes.

"She is going to be an excellent addition to the board and I am very excited for her," she said of the new board member.

A crowded ballot for the Crestview Board of Education has been whittled down to four victors after Tuesday's election.

MADISON TOWNSHIP -- Catherine Swank won a close vote to recover her seat on the Madison Township Board of Trustees after Tuesday night's election results.

It's likely just one in four registered voters in Mansfield will determine the city's next mayor.

On Tuesday, Mansfield voters will make the decision on its next mayor: Republican incumbent Tim Theaker or Democrat Don Bryant, a current at-large member of Mansfield City Council.

Don Bryant said Wednesday he is ready to finish what he started 10 months ago when he announced his campaign for Mansfield mayor.'

More than 1,500 Richland County voters have cast ballots in this year's general election, though that number is down from the most recent Mansfield mayoral election year.

The choice for the next Mansfield City Council president could not be more clearly defined.

The Richland County Board of Elections on Monday reminded voters a few polling place changes were announced earlier this year and will be effective for the Nov. 5 general election.

SHELBY — There will be two seats up for grabs on the Shelby City Schools board of education in November. Current members Lorie White and Mark Fisher are on the ballot to retain their seats, along with challenger Carl Ridenour.

MANSFIELD -- A trio of candidates, two of them write-in ballot options, seek to become the next 4th Ward representative on Mansfield City Council.

MANSFIELD -- Democratic Party candidates for city offices have collectively raised -- and spent -- more than their Republican Party counterparts during this election cycle.

Two current elected city officials are vying to earn a Mansfield City Council At-Large seat on Nov. 5.

Mansfield City Council 4th Ward candidate Alomar Davenport announced Thursday he has suspended his campaign, but will remain a candidate.

The candidate who wins the race Nov. 5 to represent the 6th Ward on Mansfield City Council certainly knows her way around council chambers.

Aurelio Diaz is running for Mansfield City Council president. The 43-year-old political newcomer spoke Wednesday at the Richland County Democratic Party's weekly luncheon.

One thing is certain after the Nov. 5 election. The residents of Mansfield's 2nd Ward will have a new representative on City Council.

Voters in the city of Shelby will decide two contested races on the Nov. 5 ballot, in addition to two tax levy renewals.

 The November 5 election will bring with it three vacant spots on the Mansfield City School Board.

The MCS board, who over see and set standards for the district carries five board members. They hold at least one meeting a month.

The Richland County Democratic Party has announced it will provide rides to the Richland County Board of Elections for early voting and will also provide rides to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 5.

At least one new face will join the Clear Fork Valley Local Schools Board of Education following November’s election. 

To the organizers of Thursday evening’s Mansfield Mayoral Debate, the 90-minute faceoff between Republican incumbent Tim Theaker and Democratic challenger Don Bryant was a flaming success. 

Incumbent Republican Mayor Tim Theaker and Democratic challenger Don Bryant, an at-large member of Mansfield City Council, debated in front of nearly 500 attendees at the Renaissance Theatre on Thursday. 

Bryant and Theaker sparred verbally during the 90-minute debate pointing out their opposition's flaws in future plans as well as past projects.

The 2019 Mansfield Mayoral Debate is tonight at 6:30 at The Renaissance Theatre. Even before it begins, Mansfield should be proud of itself.

Phillip Scott thinks the past 12 years as Mansfield City Council president have prepared him to become an At-Large member of the same elective body.

Eight candidates are vying to fill three full-time seats and one part-time seat up for grabs on the Crestview Board of Education. 

In the upcoming election, a current Madison Township trustee is challenged by someone who also has equivalent experience in the position. 

Nearly 850 tickets have already been reserved for the 2019 Mansfield Mayoral Debate, scheduled Thursday evening at The Renaissance Theatre. Please reserve your seat today at The Ren website.

The last "Talk the Vote" stop on the Richland Source six-week listening tour is scheduled Monday evening in Mansfield's 6th Ward at the SC Events Center, 417 Orange St., from 6 to 7 p.m.

The next mayor of Lexington will not lack experience with the village government. The Nov. 5, non-partisan race pits longtime incumbent Eugene Parkison against longtime village council member Brian White.

Five candidates are vying for three seats on the Plymouth-Shiloh Local Schools Board of Education in November’s election. 

Richland County voters will encounter a myriad of issues on the Nov. 5 ballot, including new and continuing fire department tax levies in both Madison and Springmill townships.

Jean Taddie is asking voters on Nov. 5 to retain her for the Mansfield City Council 6th Ward seat. Appointed in January, Taddie spoke Wednesday at the Richland County Democratic Party's weekly luncheon.

In the upcoming election, voters in the Ontario Local School District will decide whether or not to approve a 5-year, 6.9 mill operating levy that would generate $1,935,000 per year for the district, filling a gaping void left by a lack of state funding, which Superintendent Lisa Carmichael said the district was only alerted to in July.

MANSFIELD -- One of the next steps in the "Mansfield Rising" plan is the development of a community branding effort, according to Jodie Perry, president & CEO of Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development.

MANSFIELD -- Election Day is still just over a month away. But if you want to participate in our democracy on Nov. 5, Monday is a big day.

MANSFIELD -- Election Day is not until Nov. 5. But you begin early voting on Tuesday.