Three area men to run for office

CELINA - Mercer County Prosecutor Matthew K. Fox, a Republican, on Tuesday announced his candidacy for the county common pleas judge position for the 2022 election cycle.

Long serving county common pleas judge Jeffrey R. Ingraham, a Democrat who has sat on the bench since 1991, cannot seek another term due to age limits set in the Ohio Constitution.

Two other candidates, too, recently have announced their plans to run for county office. Donald Holtvoigt, a Democrat from Celina, and Dave Buschur, a Republican from Maria Stein, both plan to run for the county commissioner seat held by Greg Homan, a Republican from Coldwater. Homan's term expires at the end of the year.

The filing deadline for partisan candidates' declarations of candidacy and local questions and issues for the May 3 primary election is 4 p.m. Feb. 2.

Fox in a news release said he has served at the county prosecutor's office for more than two decades, coming on first as an assistant prosector helping victims of domestic violence.

"In January of 2013, I had the honor of becoming your elected prosecuting attorney, where I continue to maintain an active court docket, supervise all legal matters handled by my office and manage the administration and function of the office," he said in a news release.

Fox indicated that with the prosector's office he has handled cases at every level of state courts, including the Ohio Supreme Court. He also noted he is admitted to practice law in Ohio, federal district court and the Supreme Court of the United States and has served as special prosecutor in Allen, Darke, Hardin and Van Wert counties.

Holtvoigt and Buschur both announced their run for county commissioner on social media.

"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to bring a new voice and message to the fine citizens of our county," Holtvoigt said in an email to the newspaper.

He stated his platform will be very similar to his last run when he went up against county commissioner Jerry Laffin, a Republican from Coldwater.

"None of those issues, including flood control, have been addressed in any meaningful way," he said.

During that campaign he had promised to host town hall meetings regularly, called for the creation of a county-based, affordable health care plan and supported the development of reliable broadband internet access, among other initiatives.

Buschur on a social media campaign site characterized himself as a husband, father, small business owner and proud Marion Local Flyer.

"This county has given me so much - a safe, secure community to build a home and raise a family and ongoing support while growing a successful business," he wrote. "I want to give back to the members of this community that have provided me with so much opportunity by serving as your next County Commissioner."

He stressed the need for "strong, respectful leadership to fairly and accurately reflect and represent the kind, hardworking people of our county."

Residents at May 3 primary election will have the option to select a ballot of their affiliated political party or an issue-only ballot. Candidates who win their party's nomination in the primary election will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.