Thursday, February 6th, 2014
Only Republicans seek Mercer County position
Voters to decide races, tax levies, other issues in May
By Daily Standard Staff
By WILLIAM KINCAID
and AMY KRONENBERGER
newsdept@dailystandard.com
CELINA - No Democrat filed to run for the Mercer County Commissioner seat for the term to expire at the end of the year.
Wednesday was the filing deadline for candidates and issues to be placed on the May primary ballot.
Mercer County Commissioner John Bruns of Maria Stein announced in December that he would not seek another term. He began serving in April 2007 and was re-elected in November 2010.
Two Republican candidates are seeking the position: Jeff Buschor of Celina and Greg Homan of Coldwater have filed petitions with the board of elections.
The deadline for write-in candidates is Feb. 24. Independent candidates wanting to appear on the general election ballot in November must file by May 5.
Also up for grabs this year are the positions of Mercer County Auditor, currently held by Randy Grapner, and Mercer County Court of Common Pleas Probate/Juvenile Division, occupied by Mary Pat Zitter.
Grapner and Zitter both filed for re-election. No one else filed by deadline to contest the seats at the May election.
Villages, school districts and the county also submitted the following issues to appear on the May ballot:
• Village of Fort Recovery is seeking the authority to execute opt-out electric and gas service aggregation programs in two separate ballot issues.
• Parkway Local Schools is seeking a five-year renewal of a 1.5-mill property tax for improvements, renovations, additions to school facilities and acquisition of land and equipment.
• Village of Rockford is seeking a five-year replacement levy of 2.8 mills for operations.
• Mercer County is seeking a five-year renewal tax of 1.94-mills for Cheryl Ann programs.
• St. Henry schools is seeking a five-year renewal tax with an increase to 9.1-mills for emergency requirements.
• Village of Coldwater is seeking the authority to execute opt-out electric and gas service aggregation programs in two separate ballot issues.
Auglaize County
In Auglaize County, the Heritage Trails Park District is asking voters for a new, 7-year tax levy that would bring in $300,000 annually. The .6-mill property tax would pay for the preservation and development of parks in the county.
• Mental Health and Recovery Services of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties also is requesting a new tax levy for operating expenses. If passed, the 1-mill levy would bring in $3.2 million annually.
• St. Marys City School District residents will vote on a five-year, 6.8-mill property tax renewal for operating expenses. The levy was first passed in 2004 and would bring in $1.84 million annually.
• Residents in New Bremen Local Schools District will vote on a 1 percent income tax renewal levy first passed in 2004. It brings in $1.65 million per year for operating expenses. The issue was first passed as a five-year levy and renewed in 2009. School board members this time are seeking a continuous levy so they won't have to seek a renewal in another five years.
• The St. Marys Eagles Auglaize Aerie 767 is asking voters for a permit for Sunday alcohol sales on premises from 10 a.m. to midnight.
• Auglaize County incumbents running unopposed are auditor Janet Schuler, Democrat; Probate Court Judge Mark Spees, Republican; and commissioner Doug Spencer, Republican.
