2025 ELECTION ROUNDUP: Township trustee races see several shakeups; many incumbents reelected
Voters across Highland County chose two trustees to represent each township Tuesday night in the Nov. 4 general election, with a mix of incumbents and new representatives unofficially being elected.
Across the county, overall voter turnout was 18.26%, with 4,913 votes cast out of 26,899 registered voters, unofficially.
The township with the most trustee candidates on the ballot was Liberty., where current trustees Tyler Kelch and Joey Middleton unofficially new candidates Keenan Brault, Billy Groves and Rhonda Hassman.
"Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to my supporters in Liberty Township," Brault told The Highland County Press.
Kelch has served two terms as Liberty Township trustee, while Middleton was appointed to the position. The unofficial breakdown saw Middleton collect the most votes with 630 (28.7%), with Kelch having 616 (28%). They were followed by Groves (416, 18.9%), Brault (339, 15.4%) and Hassman (196, 8.9%).
However, some contested races in other townships saw new candidates unofficially defeating incumbents. In Paint Township, longtime trustee Steven Karnes unofficially received the lowest vote total. The other incumbent, Corey Miller was reelected, along with challenger Scott Lovett. Josh Carroll was also a candidate on the ballot. The unofficial breakdown showed Miller leading with 283 votes (31.2%), followed by Lovett (234, 25.8%), Carroll (203, 22.4%) and Karnes (186, 20.3%).
In Brushcreek Township, unofficial results indicate there will be one new trustee and one incumbent. Challenger Joshua Ryan collected the highest vote total with 102 (34.1%), but the second seat is too close to call between the two incumbents. Current trustee Nick Greiner unofficially had 80 votes (26.8%), while trustee Steve Elliott collected 79 (26.4%), unofficially. Also on the ballot was Cody Egner with 38 voters (12.7%).
In Clay Township, a new candidate, Ron Ellis, received the highest vote total with 112, while current trustee Michael Truman was reelected with 80 votes, unofficially. Write-in candidate David Kiley unofficially had 44 votes. Ellis will fill Kenneth Bohl’s position.
For Madison Township, unofficial results show a new trustee was elected in Zane Hamilton (793 votes), as was the write-in candidate Tyler Hamilton (70 votes), replacing current trustees Bruce Baird and Bill Buck, who were not on the ballot.
Current Dodson Township trustees Ty Smith (153 votes) and Randy Mitchell (136 votes) defeated write-in candidate Greg Tholen (nine votes), unofficially.
Incumbent candidates, all of whom were unopposed, who were reelected Tuesday include:
• Concord Township trustees Jason Campbell and Tony Gulley;
• Fairfield Township trustees Michael Pfister and Kenny Stevens;
• Hamer Township trustees Jon Holbrook and Bruce Leininger;
• Jackson Township trustees Chad Frazer and Stephen Waits (a write-in candidate);
• Marshall Township trustees Tim Sheeley and Clinton Shoemaker;
• New Market Township trustees Kevin Fawley and Kenneth Harless;
• Penn Township trustees Jay Duncan and Derek Watson;
• Salem Township trustees J.R. Roush and Shane Simmons;
• Union Township trustees Russell Herdman and Scott Lindsey;
• Washington Township trustees Mike Countryman and Travis Mootz; and
• Whiteoak Township trustees Butch Bratton and Justin Newell.
Also elected was current Paint Township fiscal officer Angela Mustard, who was appointed and ran unopposed to fill the unexpired term (ending in March 2028).
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