In addition to the Logan County Commissioner race and the two local school issues, voters will have a variety of statewide races and a handful of issues to decide at the Tuesday primary election.
85th District state representative
In state representative races, three Republican challengers — Justin G. Griffis, a Sidney attorney; Joseph S. Ratermann, Sidney Councilman and retired marine; and Rochiel Foulk, a healthcare administrator from Urbana — will look to unseat incumbent 85th District Rep. Anthony Nino Vitale, an Urbana business owner, in the Republican primary.
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The district includes the majority of Logan and Shelby counties, including the cities of Bellefontaine and Sidney, along with all of Champaign County.
The winner will face Democrat Garrett Baldwin, a Mechanicsburg teen who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, in November.
83rd District state representative
In the 83rd District, which includes Richland, Rushcreek and Bokescreek townships, along with Hardin and Hancock counties, Cheryl Buckland of Findlay and Jon Cross of Kenton are squaring off in a heated contest for the Republican nomination.
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Buckland is a Republican State Central Committee member and farmer, while Cross is director of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce and Business Alliance.
The winner of the contest will likely face Mary Harshfield of Findlay, who must get at least 50 votes as a Democrat write-in candidate to be on the November ballot.
The seat is currently held by Robert Cole Sprague, who is running unopposed for the Republican nominee for State Treasurer.
1st District state senate
In the 1st District Senate race, which includes voters in Richland, Rushcreek and Bokescreek townships, Republican candidates are lawyer and former economic development director for Henry County, Rob McColley of Napoleon; retired educator and principal Craig S. Kupferberg of Findlay; and blue collar candidate Bob Barker Jr. of Van Wert.
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McColley was appointed to fill the seat in December after former Sen. Cliff Hite resigned amid a sexual harassment complaint.
The winner of that primary contest will face Democrat Adam Papin of Bryan
4th U.S. Congressional District
In the 4th Congressional District, Rep. Jim Jordan of St. Paris, who has represented the district since 2007 and is being considered as the next Speaker of the House, must face both primary and general election challenges.
On Tuesday, he will appear on the ballot along with Joseph Miller of Marion.
On the Democrat side, Janet Garrett, a retired Oberlin teacher who has run against Jordan on three prior occasions, has been endorsed by the Logan County Democratic Party.
Local Democrats said they chose to endorse Garrett because of her commitment to the area.
“The Logan County Democratic Party enthusiastically endorses Janet Garrett for the nomination to be the next U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District of Ohio.
The party members present based their endorsement upon Janet’s knowledge and passion for the issues important to Logan County, like her plan to overcome the opioid epidemic. Janet has been and will continue to be a strong and dedicated advocate for the 4th District,”
party members wrote.
There will, however, be two other candidates on the ballot. Columbus-area software developer Cody James Slatzer-Rose is still seeking the nomination but Marysville attorney Leah Sellers has withdrawn from the race and votes for her will not be counted.
Statewide issues
In statewide primary races, voters will decide which Republican candidate advances to challenge incumbent Sherrod Brown for a U.S. Senate seat and governor candidates on both sides of the aisle.
GOP Senate candidates are Melissa Ackison, Don Eckhart, Mike Gibbons, Dan Kiley, Jim Renacci and write-in Timothy Pinion.
Republican gubernatorial candidates are Mike DeWine, current Ohio Attorney General and holder of many other statewide offices, and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.
The Democrat governor’s slate includes Richard Cordray, Larry Ealy, Dennis Kucinich, Bill O’Neill, Paul Ray and Joe Schiavoni.
Republican voters will also see a race for the State Treasurer nomination between Robert Sprague and Sandra O’Brien.
Issues
There are several local issues on the ballot and a statewide measure that has bipartisan support. Among the local issues:
• Jefferson Township is asking voters to renew the 0.5-mill, five-year levy that supports the Dr. Earl Sloan Library.
• Residents in the Stokes Township Southwest Fire District will consider a five-year renewal of a 1.6 mill fire protection levy.
• Nester Connection Property Management Group LLC is approaching voters in Richland Township with two liquor options for Bobber’s Drive Thru & Deli, 15641 State Route 235, Lakeview. The first would allow for on-premise sales of beer, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, while the second measure would allow Sunday sales from 10 a.m. to midnight.
In crossover school district measures, Jackson Center Local School District is looking to implement a one-half percent income tax on individuals residing in the school district, while Waynesfield-Goshen Local School District has a 4.9-mill, five-year permanent improvement levy on the ballot.
The lone statewide issue asks voters to support a constitutional amendment that attempts to address redistricting reform.
“Ohio is in deep need of congressional redistricting reform,” members of the local Democratic party wrote in a statement of support. “When any of Ohio’s congressional districts are used as an example of partisan gerrymandering on the national stage it is a sad day for our state. Fortunately, this state constitutional amendment will help end the practice of drawing congressional districts solely for partisan gain.
“The citizens of Logan County do not have many things in common with Ohioans from the western suburbs of Cleveland; however, we are represented by the same congressman.
Partisan gerrymandering needs to end in Ohio. Both the Ohio Democratic Party and the Ohio Republican Party recognized this by giving their endorsements for Issue 1. The Logan County Democratic Party agrees with and endorses Issue 1, as well.”