Candidates file for May primary

A slew of candidates has filed to run again for office in Celina and St. Marys. Officials also are seeking to have several issues appear on the May 4 primary election ballot.

In Celina, six incumbents are seeking another term in office. City council president Jason King, a Republican; Ward 1 councilman Myron Buxton, a Republican; Ward 2 councilman Eric Baltzell, a Republican; Ward 3 councilman Mark Fleck, a Democrat; and Ward 4 councilman Eric Clausen, a Republican, have filed to run in the primary election.

Celina treasurer Ryan J. Byers, a Republican, also filed to run for another term, according to information provided by Mercer County Board of Elections Director Deb Sneddon.

They will automatically advance to the November general election - pending the certification of their petitions - as no contenders had mounted a challenge by the Wednesday afternoon filing deadline.

Independent candidates looking to run in the 2021 election cycle must submit petitions by 4 p.m. May 3, Sneddon said.

With no contested races, the May 4 primary election ballot will feature no candidates but will have two school issues and an ambulance district levy. Hence, only voters who live in those districts will be eligible to participate.

Parkway Local School District officials are seeking a five-year, 8.97-mill renewal operating levy. The levy was first passed as a three-year levy on May 4, 1993, according to district treasurer Debbie Pierce. It pays for day-to-day operating expenses, and the revenue goes into the district's general fund.

The owner of a $100,000 home would continue to pay $212 per year. County auditor Randy Grapner estimated the amount generated for the district to be nearly $1.07 million per year, Pierce said.

Celina City Schools District officials are pursuing a building project issue. The total project millage rate is 8.2 mills - 7.7 mills for building project costs with a total bond life of up to 37 years, and a 0.5-mill levy for maintenance which could last up to 23 years.

If approved, the combined issue would raise about $75.98 million from local taxpayers, and the state Classroom Facilities Assistance Program would cover about 49% of shared costs for the project, according to Celina superintendent Ken Schmiesing.

The overall project has been estimated at $126.8 million, with the state to pick up $50.9 million of shared costs, and the school district to cover nearly $76 million.

The Southern Mercer County Joint Ambulance District is asking for an additional tax to provide ambulance service at a rate not exceeding 0.75 mills. The levy would run for five years, beginning in 2021 and first due in calendar year 2022, according to language submitted to the board of elections.

Facing difficulty finding volunteers, the St. Henry EMS branch opted to break away from Mercer County EMS and form the new district, which offers a paid on-call system to entice volunteers.

The new district is expected to operate similarly to fire districts in the county. It would cover Gibson, Granville, Marion and Recovery townships and the villages of Burkettsville, Chickasaw, Fort Recovery and St. Henry.

In Auglaize County, seven incumbents are seeking another term in office in St. Marys, according to information provided by the Auglaize County Board of Elections. City council president James Harris, a Republican; at-large councilmen Todd Fleagle, Daniel F. Uhlenhake and Robert J. Fitzgerald, all Republicans; Ward 1 councilman John A. Bubp, a Republican; Ward 3 councilman James S. Christman, a Republican; and Ward 4 councilwoman Robin A. Willoughby, a Democrat; all filed to run in the primary.

No one has filed to run for treasurer or the Ward 2 council seat, according to elections board information.

Also, St. Marys officials seek to change a 10-year, 0.5% income tax levy first passed in 1985 into a permanent tax. The tax generates about $1.5 million each year for the city. Its revenues fund the police, fire, parks and engineering departments as well as the street program, according to safety service director Greg Foxhoven.

Voters renewed the tax in 1995, 2005 and 2015. City administrators said the amendment would eliminate the need for renewals. If the amendment were to fail, it would not eliminate the tax, which instead would come up for renewal again in May 2025.

Foxhoven said the city has major capital improvement projects on the horizon, and the change would help officials arrange long-term financing and planning options.