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Election preview stories:

(Stories added as they are published.)
School Boards
Celina School Board
By William Kincaid
CELINA - Candidates in a crowded field vying for three open spots on the Celina school board told a large audience on Thursday night why they should be voted into office in the Nov. 7 general election.
The 11 men and women running for the school board seats made open and closing statements and responded to questions posed by and relayed to the Celina Education Association by audience members. [More]
New Knoxville School Board
By Tom Millhouse
  NEW KNOXVILLE - Two incumbents and one newcomer are seeking two seats on the New Knoxville Local School Board of Education in the Nov. 7 general election.
Brian Hoge and Brittany Clark are the incumbents. Heather Jurosic is making her first bid for a school board seat. [More]
Celina School Board
By William Kincaid
  CELINA - A crowded field of 11 candidates are running for three open seats on the Celina City Schools Board of Education in the Nov. 7 general election.
The top three vote-getters will replace school board members Bill Sell, Deb Guingrich and Barbara Vorhees, who chose not to seek reelection. [More]
Parkway School Board
By Leslie Klosterman
  ROCKFORD - Juniors from Parkway High School's civics class asked hard-hitting questions to prospective school board members during a meet-the-candidate night on Tuesday evening.
Four candidates are running for two seats on the board. Incumbent Tara Patterson is seeking reelection. Newcomers Amanda Peel, Bryan Schoenleben and Christopher Wood are also vying for a seat. Board member Talon Bates is not seeking reelection. [More]
Fort Recovery School Board
By Leslie Klosterman
  FORT RECOVERY - Five candidates are vying for three open seats on the Fort Recovery Local Schools Board of Education. Incumbent Donald Wendel is facing off against former board member Greg LeFevre and newcomers Chris Duhamel, Mitch Fullenkamp and Dee Grieshop. [More]
Village and City Offices
Celina City Council
By William Kincaid
  CELINA - Six candidates are vying for three open seats on Celina City Council in the Nov. 7 general election.
City council is poised for a shakeup as veteran Democrat member June Scott opted not to seek another term while Republican Michael Sovinski is running as a no-party candidate on the ballot. [More]
Minster Village Council
By Tom Millhouse
  MINSTER - Two incumbent Minster Village Council members are being challenged in the Nov. 7 general election by a pair of residents making their first attempt at public office.
Nicole Clune and Tom Herkenhoff are seeking re-election to village council. Also appearing on the ballot are newcomers Josh Osterloh and Trey Steele. The top two vote-getters will each pick up a seat. [More]
Minster Mayor
By Tom Millhouse
  MINSTER - Longtime Minster Mayor Dennis Kitzmiller is being challenged in his bid for another term in office in the Nov. 7 general election by seasoned village council member Craig Oldiges.
Kitzmiller has held the position for 28 years, while challenger Oldiges has served on village council for 18 years. The mayoral race has generated considerable interest as many candidate signs have cropped up around town. [More]
St. Marys Mayor
By Abigail Miller
  ST. MARYS - Candidates Ashley R. Randolph and Joseph E. Hurlburt Jr. shared their visions for the city during a mayoral debate hosted by the St. Marys Rotary Club on Wednesday afternoon.
The two are vying to become the next mayor of St. Marys in the Nov. 7 general election. Mayor Patrick McGowan is in his final months heading up the city after deciding not to seek another term. [More]
St. Mays City Council
By Abigail Miller
ST. MARYS - Two candidates are vying for the St. Marys City Council 2nd Ward seat in the Nov. 7 general election.
Ashley Randolph, the current 2nd Ward council member, is running for mayor. David A. Thomas, 52, a no-party candidate, and Kyle A. Schmehl, 37, a Republican, are both looking to pick up the seat. [More]
St. Marys City Council
By Abigail Miller
  ST. MARYS - Four candidates will compete for three open at-large seats on the St. Marys City Council in the Nov. 7 general election.
Republican incumbents Robert "Bob" Fitzgerald and Daniel Uhlenhake are being challenged by write-in candidates Michael Aquaro Jr. and Donna Thomas. [More]
Rockford Mayor
By Erin Gardner
  ROCKFORD - Two candidates are vying to become Rockford's next mayor in the Nov. 7 general election.
Mayor Amy Joseph is in her final months heading up the village after deciding not to seek another term.
Chris Rasbach
Chris Rasbach is a 43-year-old business process manager for Crown Equipment Corporation. [More]
Township Trustees
Jefferson Township Trustee
By William Kincaid
  Incumbent Nick Laux is being challenged by Jodie L. Swaney for an open Jefferson Township trustee seat in the Nov. 7 general election.
Nick Laux
Laux is a 64-year-old fabricator at Celina Glass. He has a wife, Myra, and is a graduate of Celina High School. He has been a Jefferson Township trustee for nearly seven years. [More]
Washington Township Fiscal Officer
By Leslie Klosterman
  WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Two candidates are vying for the township fiscal officer position as current officer Ellen Homan retires at the end of her term.
Samantha Menchhofer and Ryan Sutter are competing for the position.
Samantha Menchhofer
Menchhofer, 35, has a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Ball State University. She currently helps run the family farm with her husband, Eric, and is a stay-at-home mother for her two children. [More]
Union Township Trustee
By Erin Gardner
  UNION TOWNSHIP - Incumbent township trustee Austin Harner is being challenged by Brandon Uncapher for an open trustee seat in the Nov. 7 general election. Candidates are presented in alphabetical order.
Austin Harner
Harner is a 29-year-old Celina High School graduate and farmer. He and his father own and operate a farm south of Mendon. He and his wife, Jadrian, of 6 years have four kids. [More]
Levies
Auglaize Heritage Trail Park District levy
By William Kincaid
WAPAKONETA - Heritage Trail Park District has proposed a five-year, 0.5-mill property tax levy to develop and protect lands and waters, according to Auglaize County Board of Elections filings.
This would be the district's third attempt to nail down a levy in nearly a decade. [More]
Celina School Income Tax
By William Kincaid
CELINA - Electors in the Celina City Schools district in the Nov. 7 general election will vote on a five-year, 1%-earned-income tax renewal levy that would generate $4.368 million annually.
The revenue accounts for 14% of the school district's budget, said superintendent Ken Schmiesing. It flows into the general fund and goes toward general operating expenses, added treasurer Michelle Mawer. [More]
Mercer County Board of Developmental Disabilities levy
By Abigail Miller
CELINA - Mercer County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) has a five-year, 1.94-mill renewal levy on the Nov. 7 general election ballot that would generate approximately $1.38 million annually for operating services and expenses.
MCDD Director Shawn Thieman said the levy was first passed 25 years ago and is still based on 1999 property values, so the rates will not increase with property values. It would collect the same amount of money as originally voted on, he stressed. [More]
Minster recreation levy
By Abigail Miller
MINSTER - Electors in the Minster Local Schools district will vote on a five-year, 0.2-mill recreation replacement levy on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
If approved, the replacement levy would generate $37,000 annually for the operation and maintenance of district parks and play areas. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $7 a year, according to superintendent Josh Meyer. [More]
Coldwater Public Library levy
By Georgia Rindler
COLDWATER - A renewal levy for the Coldwater Public Library will be on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
The 0.5-mil operating levy is projected to generate approximately $77,325 per year.
Owners of a $100,000 home would continue to pay $14 annually, according to the Mercer County Auditor's Office. [More]
St. Henry income tax
By Abigail Miller
ST. HENRY - The village of St. Henry is running a levy that if approved by voters on the Nov. 7 general election ballot would increase the income tax rate by 0.5%.
The levy would bump up the income tax rate to 1.5% beginning Jan. 1, 2024, for the purpose of public safety, capital improvements, operating expenses, municipal services, acquisitions, maintenance, repair and replacement of municipal property and all other municipal operations and obligations, per ballot language. [More]
Mercer County District Library levy
By Abigail Miller
CELINA - Voters served by the Mercer County District Library will decide on a 0.5-mill renewal property tax levy in the Nov. 7 general election.
The county library serves Celina, Marion Local and St. Henry school districts and includes the village of Mendon and small portions of the Minster and New Bremen school districts within Mercer County. [More]
Auglaize Heritage Trail Park District Levy
By Abigail Miller
WAPAKONETA- Auglaize County voters on Nov. 7 will decide on Heritage Trail Park District's proposed five-year, 0.5-mill property tax levy for park development and operation.
The district, established in 1996, operates from a small fraction of local government funds allocated to various organizations in Auglaize County. It is served by a board of three commissioners - Allison Brady, Dave Stilwell and Matt Teeters. [More]
Mercer County Council on Aging levy
By Abigail Miller
CELINA - The Mercer County Council on Aging (MCCoA) has a five-year, 0.7-mill renewal property tax levy on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
Revenue from the levy funds services to Mercer County residents 60 and older to help them remain as independent as possible in their own homes. [More]
Rockford levy
By Erin Gardner
ROCKFORD - Rockford voters will decide on a five-year, 2.8-mill renewal property tax levy in Nov. 7 general election.
The levy generates $39,399 annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $76.30 per year, according to village fiscal officer Lisa Kuhn. [More]
Southwest Mercer Fire District levy
By Abigail Miller
FORT RECOVERY - The Southwest Fire District has a five-year, 1.9-mill renewal levy on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
The fire protection levy was first passed in 1983 and would continue to generate about $237,000 annually to support fire district operations and purchase new vehicles. [More]
Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin levy
By Abigail Miller
LIMA - Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties will have a five-year renewal levy not to exceed 1 mill for operating expenses on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The levy was first passed in 2014 in response to falling revenues. It would potentially generate an estimate of $3,691,000 annually. [More]
Franklin Township fire levy
By Tom Millhouse
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - Township voters will decide on a five year, 1.1-mill renewal fire protection levy in the Nov. 7 general election.
The levy, which has been on the books since 1985, generates $84,000 per year. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would continue to pay $33 annually, according to the ballot language. [More]
Blackcreek Township fire levy
By Erin Gardner
BLACKCREEK TOWNSHIP - Township voters will decide the fate of a five-year, 1.25-mill with a 0.35-mill increase fire protection renewal levy on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
The levy, with the increase, would generate $39,000 annually for the township's fire protection services and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $56 per year, said Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Andy Hinders. It currently collects $36,471 and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $12.50 per year. [More]
Parkway levy
By Leslie Klosterman
ROCKFORD - Parkway Local Schools District voters will choose whether to renew a five-year, 1.5 mill permanent improvement tax levy on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Should voters decide to renew it, the levy would continue to collect $236,000 annually. The owner of a $100,000 home would continue to pay $53 per year, according to information provided by district treasurer Debbie Pierce. [More]
Marion Local Levies
By Tom Millhouse
MARIA STEIN - Voters in the Marion Local School District will decide on a combination 5.3-mill property tax and 0.5% earned income tax to finance the construction of a new $23.3 million school building.
The levy would fund the construction of a ne [More]
Jefferson Township fire levy
By William Kincaid
Voters in Jefferson Township will decide on a five-year, 1.8-mill renewal property tax levy for fire protection and ambulance services in the Nov. 7 general election.
The levy would continue to generate $146,000 per year and the owner of a $100,000 home would continue to pay $49 annually. [More]
St. Marys School levy
By Leslie Klosterman
ST. MARYS - St. Marys City Schools district voters will decide on a five-year, 5.823-mill renewal emergency property tax levy on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
The levy was first approved by voters in 2004 and has since been renewed every five years, according to district treasurer Andrew Wilker. [More]
Mendon levy
By Leslie Klosterman
MENDON - Village voters will decide on a five-year, 2.5-mill renewal operating levy at the Nov. 7 general election.
The current levy was first placed on the ballot in 2008, according to village fiscal officer Kristina Boroff. If renewed, the levy would continue to collect $15,401 annually. The owner of a $100,000 home would continue to pay $74 a year. [More]
Fort Recovery storm water levy
By Leslie Klosterman
FORT RECOVERY - Village residents will decide on a five-year, 2.5-mill renewal storm water control levy at the Nov. 7 general election.
The levy was first passed in 1994, according to village fiscal officer Roberta Staugler. If renewed, the levy would continue to collect $73,000 annually. It would continue to cost the owner of a $100,000 home $69 per year. [More]
Local Issues
Unincorporated Mercer County electric aggregation
By William Kincaid
CELINA - Looking to possibly lock-in discounted electric rates for unincorporated areas, Mercer County commissioners have placed an electric aggregation issue on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
Passage of the issue would authorize commissioners to purchase electric loads at a fixed rate for up to three years on behalf of eligible residents and small businesses in unincorporated areas of the county, i.e. townships. [More]
Washington Township Sunday liquor sales
By Leslie Klosterman
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Township voters will decide on a local liquor option for the sale of liquor on Sundays on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
Should voters approve the issue, liquor would be permitted to be sold in licensed establishments on [More]
State Issues
State Issue 1 - Abortion
From Associated Press
  The constitutional amendment seeking to guarantee access to abortion rights in Ohio has been fueling misleading claims about how it could influence abortion care, gender-related health care and parental consent in the state.
Many of these talking points also are included in a state Senate resolution proposed on Wednesday, which was the first day of early in-person voting ahead of Election Day on Nov. 7. [More]
State Issue 2 - Marijuana
From Associated Press
COLUMBUS (AP) - Voters in Ohio will decide next week whether to legalize recreational marijuana, but people on both sides of the issue say more hangs in the balance than simply decriminalizing the drug.
Supporters of legalization say Ohio can rec [More]
General Information
By William Kincaid
CELINA - New faces will appear on Celina City Council and the Celina school board next year as a handful of incumbents opted not to file for reelection.
The Nov. 7 general election in Mercer County will also feature contested township trustee, village council and other board of education races as well as numerous issues, pending the certification of petitions by elections officials. [More]