The Daily Standard
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CELINA - There are no contested local races, but a handful of state and U.S. contests, a slew of levies and issues and, of course, the presidential matchup between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump that will appear on the Nov. 5 general election ballot in Mercer and Auglaize counties.
In Mercer County, a slate of Republican countywide officeholders and two other candidate are running uncontested in all 36 precincts. County commissioner Rick Muhlenkamp, county prosecutor Erin Minor, county clerk of courts Calvin Freeman, county recorder Julie Peel, county treasurer David Wolters, county engineer Jim Wiechart and county coroner Timothy Heinrichs are each poised to lock in another term as they face no opponent.
Gearing up for their first countywide offices are Brian Miller and Doug Timmerman. Miller emerged from a three-way primary election as the Republican nominee for an open county commissioner spot and is now running uncontested in the general election.
Timmerman, the county sheriff's office chief deputy, is on the cusp of being promoted by voters to the top elected local law enforcement office of sheriff. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary and faces no opponent in the general election.
Local issues are as follows:
• Coldwater Exempted Village School district voters will see a five-year, additional 0.5% traditional income tax. It would bump up the existing 0.5% traditional income tax to 1%.
• Village of Coldwater voters will see a five-year, additional 0.5% traditional income tax. It would bump up the existing 1% income tax to 1.5%.
• Butler Township voters will see a five-year, 1.8-mill renewal fire-protection levy.
• Center Township voters will see a five-year 0.35-mill renewal levy that would fund parks and recreation.
• Dublin Township voters will see a five-year, 0.5-mill renewal general operating levy.
• Hopewell Township voters will see a five-year, 1.7-mill renewal levy for current expenses.
• Voters in Celina, Coldwater and Rockford precincts as well as East Jefferson North and South, West Jefferson, Center, Butler East, Butler West, Dublin, Mendon Union, Franklin East, Franklin West, Hopewell, Liberty, Washington and Blackcreek precincts will see a five-year, 1-mill additional levy for the benefit of a new Mercer County Joint Ambulance District.
• Voters in St. Henry North and South and Granville East and West precincts will see a five- year, 2.5-mills replacement levy for the benefit of the South Central Mercer Fire District.
• Voters in Rockford, Dublin Township, Hopewell Township, Liberty Township and Blackcreek Township will see a five-year, 1-mill renewal levy for the Rockford Carnegie Public Library.
• Village of Montezuma voters will see a five-year renewal of an assessment of $44 per tax parcel to fund a lighting district for streets and other public areas.
• Mendon Union voters will see a local liquor option for the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages by River Trail Campground II Inc., an applicant for a C-1, C-2 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a carryout/grocery store at 7712 Deep Cut Road, Mendon.
• Mendon Union voters will see a local liquor option for Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages by River Trail Campground II Inc., an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a carryout/grocery store at 7712 Deep Cut Road, Mendon.
In Auglaize County, countywide officeholders, all Republicans, are running uncontested in all 42 precincts.
County commissioner John Bergman, county commissioner David Bambauer, county prosecutor Edwin Pierce, county clerk of courts Mandy Dunlap, county sheriff Michael Vorhees, county recorder Emily Schlenker, county treasurer April Bowersock, county engineer Andrew Baumer and county coroner Jason Stienecker are each poised to lock in another term as they face no opponent.
Local issues are as follows:
• All county voters will see a 10-year, 0.5-mill renewal tax for the benefit of Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties, specifically current expenses.
• St. Marys Township voters will see a replacement of 1-mill of an existing levy and an increase of 1.6-mill, to constitute a tax for the benefit of the unincorporated area of the township for purchasing new firefighting equipment and maintaining existing fire apparatus and appliances. It would be a continuing levy.
• German Township voters will see a replacement of 2.5-mill of an existing levy and an increase of 0.25-mill, to constitute a tax for the benefit of the unincorporated area for fire and emergency medical services. It would be a continuing levy.
• Village of New Bremen voters will see a five-year, additional 1-mill tax for fire and emergency medical services.
• Village of New Bremen voters will see a five-year, 2-mill replacement tax for the purpose of providing ambulance service and/or emergency medical services.
• New Knoxville Local School District voters will see an additional 6.5-mill tax for general improvements. It would be a continuing levy.
• Jackson Township voters will see a three-year, 3-mill renewal tax for fire and emergency medical services.
• Village of Minster voters will see a three-year, 3-mill renewal tax for fire and emergency medical services.
• St. Marys voters will see a local liquor option for Sunday sales of beer, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor by Friends of Saint Marys Theater and Grand Opera House, a holder of a D-5h liquor permit and an applicant for a Sunday Sales D-6, who is engaged in the business of Community Arts Center at 119 W. Spring St., St. Marys.
• Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties will vote on the U.S. Senator race pitting incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, against Republican Bernie Moreno, Libertarian Don Kissick and three write-in candidates.
• Auglaize County voters will vote on the U.S. 4th House District race pitting incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, against Democrat Tamie Wilson.
• Mercer County voters will vote on the U.S. 5th District race pitting incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R- Bowling Green, against Democrat Keith Mundy.
• Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties will vote on the Ohio Senate's 12th District race featuring lone candidate Susan Manchester, R-Waynesfield, who currently represents Ohio's 78th House District.
• Voters in several precincts in Auglaize County will vote on Ohio's 78th House District, a seat currently held by Manchester, R-Waynesfield. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, who currently represents Ohio Senate's 12th District, is the lone candidate.
• Voters in Mercer County and southern Auglaize County will vote on the Ohio's 84th House District race pitting incumbent Angie King, R-Celina, against Arienne Childrey, D-St. Marys.
• Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties will vote on the Ohio Court of Appeals 3rd District race. Republican John Willamowski is the lone candidate.
• Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties will vote on three races for three Ohio Supreme Court justices. Democrat Michael Donnelly is up against Republican Megan Shanahan, Republican Joseph Deters faces Democrat Melody Steward and Democrat Lisa Forbes vies against Republican Daniel Hawkins.
• Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties will vote on a member to the State Board of Education 1st District. Kristie Reighard is the lone candidate.
• Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties will vote on State Issue 1, a constitutional amendment to replace the current Ohio Redistricting Commission, made up of three statewide officeholders and four state lawmakers, with an independent body selected directly by citizens. The new panel's members would be diversified by party affiliation and geography, according to the Associated Press.
