Local Elections

MANSFIELD -- The Richland County Democratic Party Central Committee will re-organize during an online meeting May 28 at 7 p.m., according to Matt Finfgeld, current Central Committee chairman

It took a couple of months longer than she anticipated, but Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner has won the Democratic Party nomination for Richland County Probate Court Judge.

The Richland County Board of Elections on Tuesday approved an additional 897 ballots from the 2020 primary election.

Ontario resident Mark Romanchuk, who has represented Richland County in the Ohio House for the last eight years, on Tuesday won the Republican primary for the Ohio Senate's 22nd District.

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.

The longest-running primary election in Ohio's history appears to be wheezing its way to the finish line Tuesday.

Republicans Marilyn John and Nathan Martin, and Democrats Carline Curry and Sam Grady, will appear on the March 17 primary ballot in the race for the Ohio House 2nd District seat, representing Richland County.

Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus said the five-year, 3-mill renewal levy will help fund expenses for the village such as street lighting, park expenses and maintenance in the village hall.

Challenger David Morgenstern is taking on incumbent Tony Vero in the March 17 primary election for Richland County commissioner.

(Editor's note: This story was initially published March 9 in anticipation of the March 17 in-person primary election, which was extended until April 28 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be no additional in-person voting.

The coronavirus impact on politics continues to be felt in Richland County.

Local political candidates have had to revamp strategies after in-person voting for the 2020 Ohio primary was halted and the absentee-only strategy was adopted with a deadline of April 28.

COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Thursday released the postcard the state's voters will soon receive as part of the effort to complete the 2020 Ohio primary election.

MANSFIELD -- Absentee voting has resumed for the primary election and will be conducted by mail only, according to Paulette Hankins, director of the Richland County Board of Elections.

As it turns out, the Ohio General Assembly still picks election days in the state, not the Secretary of State.

Mayor Tim Theaker said his administration, which had a department head planning meeting Friday morning, is working to be preventative and proactive with regard to coronavirus.

MANSFIELD -- Richland County Probate Court judge candidate Joe Jerger criticized his opponent's lack of probate court experience on Wednesday.

A veteran state lawmaker, a mayor and two new faces to politics face off Tuesday in the Republican primary to for the 22nd Ohio Senate District.

MANSFIELD -- On March 17, two Democratic candidates will compete in the party’s primary election for Richland County probate judge.

Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner said Wednesday her work as a magistrate in Richland County Domestic Relations Court has prepared her to lead the county's Probate Court.

Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero offered a positive "by-the-numbers" report Monday during the local Republican Party's monthly luncheon.

Absentee/early voting for the March 17 primary begins Wednesday, either by mail or in person at the Richland County Board of Elections, 1495 W. Longview Ave., in the lower level classroom.

Local attorney Kelly Badnell has officially announced her candidacy for Richland County Probate Court judge.

Domestic Relations Court Magistrate Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner has announced she is a candidate in the March 17 Democratic primary for Richland County Probate Court Judge.

The Richland County Board of Elections announced Wednesday the successful completion of security upgrades required by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Three of the now four Republican candidates competing to represent their party in the November election for Ohio’s 22nd State Senate District faced off Wednesday in a two-hour debate at Ashland University.

MANSFIELD -- The Richland County Board of Elections will not be changing any polling places for the March 17 primary election.

Jane Timken, the chairwoman of the Ohio Republican Party, spoke in Mansfield on Monday to local GOP members. Not surprisingly, she was ready to fight for President Trump.

The Richland County Board of Elections needs additional poll workers for the March 17 primary election.

SHELBY -- The Shelby Area Democratic Club recently met for the organization’s annual meeting, as required by the Ohio Revised Code and by the group’s constitution.

Neither David Falquette nor Laura Burns can claim they didn't know what they were signing up for Friday afternoon.

Laura Burns, 38, was selected Tuesday night by local Republicans to fill an unexpired term on Mansfield City Council, representing the 1st Ward.

David Falquette will be sworn in Friday as the new Mansfield City Council at-large member.

MANSFIELD -- The deadline to register to vote or change your address and/or name in the voter registration database for the March 17 primary election is Feb. 18.

MANSFIELD -- U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson said Monday that President Trump will not back down to Iran in his efforts to defend the United States.

MANSFIELD -- Across Ohio, journalists have been holding community conversations to ask: What will it take to make life better here, and how can we make that happen?

Races for the statehouse highlight the March 17 primary ballot for Richland County voters.

MANSFIELD -- With the filing deadline just one week away, the race to become the next Richland County Juvenile Court judge has grown to three candidates.

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.