12-02-2025
Primary election: Richland County Board of Elections certifies petitions
Most Richland County voters will see an issues-only ballot in the May 6 primary election.
The county board of elections met Tuesday morning to certify petitions for those candidates who filed by the Feb. 5 deadline.
Matt Finfgeld, director of the board of elections, said 1st Ward residents in Mansfield would have Republican, Democrat and issues-only ballots, while Ontario voters will consider Republican and issues-only ballots.
Other municipalities will see issues-only ballots.
Mansfield City Council will have three contested races. Incumbent 1st Ward Councilwoman Laura Burns previously said she would not seek another term.
Four candidates want to replace her. The Republican contenders are former Safety-Service Director Lori Cope and businessman Mike Miranda.
Two Democrats seeking the seat are Amy Rainey and Amber Thompson.
An interesting race is shaping up for council at-large, where Republican Shari Robertson, the former police captain who replaced Stephanie Zader last fall when Zader resigned, will face longtime councilman and current President Phil Scott, a Democrat. They will both move on to the November general election.
In the 3rd Ward, Republican incumbent El Akuchie and Democratic challenger Crystal Davis Weese will face off in November.
In the 5th Ward, incumbent Aurelio Diaz, who previously ran as a Democrat, will run as an independent. His challenger will be Democrat Joetta McCruter-Polk.
Four candidates are vying to be mayor of Ontario. Republican Kris Knapp was selected to replace Randy Hutchison when the latter stepped down last summer. He is being challenged by Councilman Josh Bradley and Troy Sapp. Cody Zeigler is the lone Democrat on the ballot.
No one filed to be Ontario's auditor.
"There's no fatal flaws on the petitions," Finfgeld said. "All of them have enough valid signatures."
The city of Shelby has a filing deadline of Feb. 20. Four of the five council incumbents have filed as the only candidates in their respective wards. They are Steve McLaughlin, at-large; Derrin Roberts, 2nd Ward; Eric Cutlip, 3rd Ward; and Nathan Martin, 4th Ward.
1st Ward incumbent Charlie Roub pulled petitions but had not submitted them as of Tuesday morning.
There are a number of issues on the May 6 ballot, including two for the city of Mansfield. Voters are being asked to approve a pair of four-year renewal levies.
Both are 0.25% income tax issues. One would generate money for safety forces, parks and recreation, street lights and demolitions of vacant properties and blight, the so-called PRIDE tax.
The second issue would be for the rehabilitation and repair of streets and park roads, the so-called pothole haters tax.
Madison Township is asking voters to approve a 5.5-mill, continuous improvement levy for operations at the fire department. The same issue was rejected last November.
Other tax issues in Richland County include the following:
The village of Plymouth has two issues: A 1-mill, five-year renewal levy to operate and maintain the cemetery and a 2-mill, five-year additional levy to support the police department.
Mifflin Township voters will consider a 2.7-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses.
Weller Township is asking voters to approve a 3-mill, five-year renewal levy for the fire department.
Lucas Local Schools is asking for approval of a 6-mill, five-year renewal levy to avoid an operating deficit.
Marvin Memorial Library in Shelby has a 1.75-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Board of elections certifies petitions for May 6 primary election
