2023 General Election: Incumbents win majority of township races

Voters in Highland County’s 17 townships elected at least one trustee as well as their township fiscal officer in the Nov. 7 election, with incumbent candidates retaining a majority of the seats.

Highland County had a 43.7-percent voter turnout overall, according to the Highland County Board of Elections. There are 30 absentee ballots and 133 provisional ballots outstanding.

Liberty Township has elected a new fiscal officer, as Jeffrey A. Beery (1,066 votes) defeated two challengers, Bob Brown (606 votes) and Dennis Dunlap (855 votes), unofficially. The current fiscal officer, Kay Barrera, did not file for reelection.

For the Madison Township trustee race, unofficial results show challenger Joshua Roe defeating current trustee Daniel Mathews by 50 votes. Roe received 654, while Mathews received 604, unofficially.

In a race likely too close to call, unofficial totals for the Whiteoak Township trustee race show Tim Truman leading with 199 votes, with Chip Yochum having 186, unofficially. Both are vying for the seat currently held by Fred Yochum (who did not file).

In Liberty Township, incumbent Ron Ward defeated challenger Rhonda Hassman by an unofficial margin of 1,874 votes to 637.

In Concord Township, incumbent Gary Shannon was unofficially reelected with 257 votes, defeating challenger Jim Satterfield, who received 150, unofficially. Appointee Jason Campbell was also elected to retain his spot fulfilling an expired term receiving 327 votes.

Incumbent Jeffray (Shane) Flannery will remain Marshall Township Trustee, defeating challenger Robert Mason by an unofficial 217-57 vote margin.

In Washington Township, current trustee Arthur Harless unofficially defeated challenger Nathan Zornes by 60 votes, with Harless receiving 189 and Zornes receiving 129, unofficially.

In Clay Township, appointee Kelle Winkle will remain fiscal officer, winning over Toni Stacey 226 votes to 129, unofficially.

Although these races were unopposed, there are also some changes in other townships. In Jackson Township, Stephen Brad Hart (201 unofficial votes) was elected to take the trustee seat currently held by Jerry Miller Jr. (who did not file petitions).

In Washington Township, Kelli Williamson (252 unofficial votes) was elected fiscal officer (incumbent Vic Gall did not file), and for the Paint Township fiscal officer position, Tara Matthews Campbell was elected (851 unofficial votes), as Karen Rumbaugh did not file for reelection.

The following incumbents, who ran unopposed, were also reelected in their respective townships:

• Brushcreek, trustee David Chaney and fiscal officer Angela Crum;

• Clay, trustees Jim Massey and Michael Truman (appointed to fulfill unexpired term);

• Concord, fiscal officer Karen Schroeder;

• Dodson, trustee Marvin Resibois and fiscal officer Kristy Warner;

• Fairfield, trustee Andy Caldwell and fiscal officer Pat Hagen;

• Hamer, trustee Nathan Mootz and fiscal officer Kim Walker;

• Jackson, fiscal officer Carleta Weyrich;

• Madison, fiscal officer Sherri Beatty;

• Marshall, fiscal officer Melanie Phillips;

• New Market, trustee Dick Barrera and fiscal officer Sara Surber;

• Paint, trustee Randy Mustard;

• Penn, trustee Daryl Bumgarner and fiscal officer Joshua Matthews;

• Salem, trustee David Hamilton and fiscal officer Jamie Wells;

• Union, trustees Nathan Brown and Scott Lindsey (appointed to fill unexpired term) and fiscal officer John Henize; and

• Whiteoak, fiscal officer Lewis (Wayne) Ferguson.