By Sean Rice
srice@dailystandard.com A Celina woman who was the nominated GOP candidate on the November ballot for Mercer County Recorder has withdrawn her name from the contest. Republican Barbra Gutierrez notified the county elections board this week of her decision in a short letter. When contacted by telephone Friday, Gutierrez declined to comment further on her decision to withdraw from the race.
Gutierrez's name will not appear on the ballot and the deadline has passed for any replacement or write in to appear. Her withdrawal assures the re-election of the incumbent Democratic candidate Tammy Barger. Gutierrez's letter to the board of elections simply states she is withdrawing from the race for county recorder.
As of now, Mercer County voters will decide several local issues and races on Election Day. Briefly, they are:
´ Celina voters will decide on a new 0.5 percent income tax to generate near $1 million.
´ For one of two open county commissioner seats, Democrat Jeffrey Schwieterman is challenging incumbent Republican Jerry Laffin. Democrat County Commissioner Tom Gagel faces a challenge from Republican Bob Nuding for the other open seat. ´ County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Hinders, a Democrat, is on the ballot unopposed; as well as Republican Sheriff Jeff Grey; Democrat Engineer James Wiechart; Republican Coroner Tim Heinrichs; and Democrat Clerk of Courts James Highley; and Treasurer Doris Rutschilling, a Republican.
´ Voters in Butler Township have a five-year 2-mill fire protection property tax levy on the ballot; Fort Recovery has a five-year, 2.5-mill fire issue on the ballot; and Dublin Township has a five-year 0.5-mill fire issue.
´ Residents in the Vantage Career Center district have a 2.3-mill replacement operating levy on the ballot.
´ Two precincts in Celina and one in St. Henry will be voting on whether to allow Sunday sales of alcohol at specific locations. They are: Gel's Market, St. Henry, and Moose Lodge 1473 and Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 5713, both in Celina. |
