Latest news with #Schaber
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election: Ralph Smith wins Ward 3 seat over incumbent, Salt rock passes levy
Ralph Smith has won the Republican primary for the third ward City Council seat over incumbent Jason Schaber. The Salt Rock Township fire and EMS levy has passed. The Ward 3 City Council seat was the only contested council race on the primary ballot. Smith won with 110 votes out of 172 or 64% of the vote. Schaber will no longer be on City Council after his term ends in December. Ralph Smith Schaber and Smith were the only candidates to file for the seat, meaning Smith won't face opposition in the November general election. "I think that my sole focus is going to be Third Ward," Smith said Tuesday night. "To coin a phrase from Trump, third ward first. But not to say that the other guy didn't do a his job, but he didn't do it as well as it should be done." As the ward representative, Smith said he wants to focus on housing blight, street improvements and affordable housing. "I really thank the voters of Third Ward for electing me and I will do my very very best to meet their expectations," Smith said. Ralph Smith won the Republican primary for the third ward City Council seat with 64% of the vote during the primary/special election. Schaber said he was "at peace" with the results and congratulated Smith on winning, adding he hopes Smith represents the ward and not just the Republican Party. "I believe it came down to not my opponent, Mr. Smith and his excellent qualities that pulled out all these votes that resulted in me losing," Schaber said. "I believe it was the local Republican Party at masses got behind this individual and they drove out voters, which led to Ralph winning." Schaber referenced the city's financial situation and outstanding audits and said with his remaining time on City Council, he hopes to use his experience to "set the city up for success." Salt Rock Township levy The Salt Rock Township passed its levy 38 to 16, about 70% of the votes. The levy will to go toward supporting fire and EMS services, which recently were taken over by the township. After the levy failed to pass in 2024 by three votes, this time township officials hoped to better inform voters of what the levy was for. The 2.5 mills levy will collect an estimated $67,000 annually. It will cost residents $59 for property valued at $100,000. This article originally appeared on Marion Star: City Council election primary ralph smith jason schaber levy salt rock
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election: Infrastructure, transportation, education: What 3rd Ward candidates are focused on
Marion has just one City Council race on the primary/special election ballot this year — a Republican contest for the Ward 3 seat. The candidates, incumbent Jason Schaber and Ralph Smith, current at-large councilman, will appear on the May 6 ballot. Schaber as been on council for more than 10 years. He said it's possible the election will result in all Republicans on City Council, which could result in "group think." One of the biggest things he's running on is to be someone to break away from that and ask questions. "But I set myself apart because I'm an independent thinker, and any issue that comes up, the first thing I say to myself is, 'how does this affect the Third Ward? Does it benefit them? Does it affect it negatively?'" Schaber said. Schaber said he would advocate for street improvements such as sewer improvement and paving projects for Ward 3. He also will support the expansion of public transportation in the city. He said he'd like to see the bus route include evening hours on weekdays or ideally six days a week. "A lot of those individuals don't have reliable transportation," Schaber said. Finally, Schaber said he plans to continue asking questions and requesting public records concerning the city's financial status. "It affects the Third wWrd, but city wide, we have a major financial crisis on our hands," Schaber said. Smith said he intended to run for his at-large seat again, but after some time on council, he felt Schaber was too "negative." "So I thought, you know, Third Ward is not being represented the way it should be," Smith said. "And so I decided that I would go ahead and try to get somebody in there, namely me, to represent the Third Ward as they should be." One of the issues Smith said he'd if elected is inadequate infrastructure, such as blighted houses, roads and sidewalks. He said he's heard complaints from Third Ward residents of abandoned or dilapidated houses. "That's not really good for the neighborhood, the city or anybody really," Smith said. Smith also wants to support first responders and improve traffic safety around the city. Lastly, Smith said he wants to develop a plan with school officials to cut down on truancy and increase test scores in Marion. "I think it's just becoming active with the people and active with the administration in a positive way, not a negative way, that I'm going to be able to do those things," Smith said. Election day for the primary/special election is May 6. Early voting began in Ohio on Tuesday, April 8. Through Friday, April 25, Marion County residents can vote 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Board of Elections Office, 222 West Center St., Marion. Extended hours will be 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. April 28; 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. April 29; 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. April 30-May 2; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 3; and 1-5 p.m. May 4. Polls will be open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on election day. Sample ballots are available on the Marion Board of Elections website. This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Council election in 3rd ward candidates schaber and smith
