Seneca board certifies election petitions

TIFFIN — The Seneca County Board of Elections certified petitions Monday afternoon for the May 5 primary election, solidifying the field for a county commissioner race and confirming a slate of 30 contested races for the Republican Central Committee. The board's action officially sets up a primary battle for Seneca County Commissioner, where incumbent Republican Bill Frankart will face Republican challenger Jim Distel. Two other incumbents were certified to run unopposed in the primary: Republican Julie Adkins for Seneca County Auditor and Judge Jay A. Meyer for the Common Pleas Court Probate Division. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to certifying candidates for the Republican Central Committee. The central committee serves as the governing body of the county party. According to the Central Committee Person's Handbook published by the Ohio Secretary of State, committee members "represent the people in the precinct and serve as a communication link between the Party, elected officials and citizens." Members are elected to represent their specific precincts — one member per precinct — and are responsible for duties such as managing party affairs, directing policy, and voting to fill vacancies in elected offices that occur between elections. With 51 precincts in Seneca County, there are 51 seats on the committee. Following Monday's certifications, voters will see contested races in 30 of those precincts where more than one Republican has filed for the single available seat. The board engaged in a detailed discussion regarding several petitions for the Central Committee that contained minor errors, such as incorrect dates or missing road numbers. Acting on advice from Seneca County Prosecutor Derek DeVine, the board voted to approve the petitions. DeVine advised the board to be "guided by the Ohio Supreme Court precedent, which mandates that a determination as to whether the filing constitutes substantial compliance ... favor is allowing candidates to see election." Under this guidance, the board approved petitions for the following candidates: Dawn Bour (Clinton Township A), Debora J. Wilkinson (Clinton Township D), James Wurm (Reed Township), Sandra L. Hallett (Clinton Township D), Logan Shackleford (Fostoria 1B) and Thomas Turco (Tiffin 3A). The board accepted the formal withdrawals of Melanie Birch (Loudon South) and Eric Gillett (Venice Township). Additionally, five candidates withdrew their original petitions and subsequently refiled new paperwork. These candidates were certified for the ballot: Adams Engle (Tiffin 2A), Tyler Shuff (Tiffin 4B), Juanita Ruth Stiverson (Hopewell C), Susan Ann Platt (Loudon South) and Joyce Dian West (Pleasant Township). The board approved a broad slate of Republican Central Committee petitions that were filed without issue. The certified candidates include: Fostoria: Veronica Lee Cooper (1A), James Ehrman (1A), Bryon J. Nonnemaker (1B), Barbara S. Patterson (1B), Linda S. Bourne Davis (3A), Sarena Rachelle Reese (3B), Charles Knight (4A), Tara R. Smith (4A), Melvin J. Clagg (4B), and Carol Schalk (4B). Tiffin: Gregory P. Dell (1A), Charles Boyer (1B), Kade Rowe (1B), Denise M. Stephens (1B), Christopher J. Englehart (1C), Logan Wolph (2A), Mary Grace Franks (2B), Daryl M. McDonald (2C), Patricia S. Woods (2C), Mark P. Leahy (3A), Jon L. Aldrich (3B), Glenn Ardner (3B), Bruce Shook (3C), Robin Reaves (3D), Harvey S. Yocom (3D), Brian Cole (4A), Kyle R. Daugherty (4A), David W. Koehl (4B), Brian Courtney (4C), Brian Wesley Ferguson (4C), Carol Coffman (4D) and Ryan Monahan (4D). Villages and Townships: Angela M. Bliss (Green Springs Village), Mary Louella Bordner (Adams Twp), Andrew T. Brickner (New Riegel Village), Duane R. Alt (Big Spring Twp), Allen Weinandy (Big Spring Twp), Raymond Weasner (Bloomville Village), Michael Marion Hess (Bloom Twp), Christopher P. Widman (Clinton A), James Cholodewitsch (Clinton B), Pauline M. Hess (Clinton B), Bradley W. Newman (Clinton C), Gregory Allen Slosser (Clinton C), Joseph Eugene Poignon (Clinton E), James D. Cline (Eden North), Cary Lee Theis (Eden North), Colton Price (Eden South), Ronald R. Burns (Hopewell A), Edward Nugent (Hopewell A), Sarah Bolte (Hopewell B), Charles Zoeller (Hopewell B), Lori A. Brickner (Hopewell C), Richard A. Findley (Jackson Twp), Kyle T. Below (Bettsville Village), Linda Ann Davis (Bettsville Village), Bradley A. Adelsperger (Liberty A), Dwight L. Clary (Liberty A), Larry A. Durst (Liberty B), Cheri L. Feindel (Loudon North), Clay Wesley Wolph (Loudon North), Tanya Hemmer (Republic Village), Michael Oberlander (Republic Village), Brian Hescht (Scipio Twp), Erika Handru (Seneca A), Kathleen A. Yost (Seneca B), Zachary Adams (Thompson Twp), Deborah A. Hay (Thompson Twp), Keith D. Hopple (Attica Village), Dorothy L. Treft (Attica Village) and Stephen Phillip Heal (Venice Twp). The board is scheduled to meet again at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the board office to certify write-in candidates.