3rd Ward has bipartisan race

FINDLAY — Findlay's 3rd Ward, like most of the city, will see new council leadership in 2026. Maybe even a Democrat. Democrat Shaun Mason is challenging Republican candidate Carol Smith to represent the city's 3rd Ward. This is his second attempt to win the seat. In 2023, he challenged three-term, 3rd Ward Councilwoman Beth Warnecke, a Republican. Warnecke won that race with 1,205 votes to Mason's 643. Beth Warnecke is one of eight incumbent council members not seeking reelection this year. Carol Smith, 45, is a former director and preschool teacher at First Presbyterian Church Nursery School. The program has closed, and she is currently in the process of opening her own preschool, Little Lions Playschool, which will be located at The Dock, St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 800 S. Main St., once licensed. Shaun Mason, also 45, is a staff software engineer at Praos Health Inc., Independence. The last Democrat to be elected to Findlay City Council was Michael Eier, 5th Ward, in 2005. He served one term. Mason said he knows running as a Democrat in Findlay is "always going to be an uphill battle." "I decided to run because I've seen how local government decisions directly affect our daily lives. Whether it's the condition of our roads, the support given to small businesses, or how tax dollars are managed, these choices matter," Mason said. Smith said her campaign has been shaped by conversations with neighbors and a growing understanding of the complexities of city government. "The good has been listening to neighbors' hopes and concerns and realizing how deeply our community cares," she said. "The challenging part has been understanding just how many moving pieces there are in city government. If there's been an 'ugly' side, it's seeing how quickly misinformation can spread." Looking ahead, Smith said she believes city council must focus on flood mitigation and water management, balancing infrastructure and utility costs fairly, addressing the need for safe and affordable housing and investing in children and families through schools, parks and safe neighborhoods. "I am grateful for the opportunity to be the voice for Ward 3 and to keep listening to residents as we work together for Findlay's future," she said. Mason has also been out talking to the neighbors. "I've heard real frustration about whether leadership is listening and spending wisely," he said. "My background has taught me how to think independently to solve complex problems and to build consensus, and I believe those skills are exactly what we need. I'm motivated to ensure every decision is guided by kindness, common sense, accountability, and fiscal responsibility; so our community remains a place people are proud to live, work and raise families." Mason said he feels good about the work he has put into his campaigns. "I've been knocking on doors, having real conversations, and building relationships with voters across the political spectrum," he said. "People here care about common-sense solutions that make life better in our community, and that's what I'm focused on. Win or lose, I believe those connections and that message put me in a strong position." Early in-person absentee voting for the Nov. 4 general election begins Oct. 7 at the Hancock County Board of Elections, 201 E Lincoln St. EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been corrected to report Davis' current employment accurately.