One more week: Election Day 2016 is Nov. 8
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Election Day is approaching on Nov. 8, and with it, Highland County voters will choose their next county commissioner and will vote on two countywide tax levy issues in addition to voting for president.
With just over one week remaining, over 17 percent of Highland County voters have cast their vote for the 2016 general election.
According to Highland County Board of Elections administrator Steve Witham, 4,851 absentee ballots have been processed as of Monday, Oct. 31 (17.5 percent of registered voters), with 1,941 of those ballots cast in person.
“Absentee ballots by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 7, or they can be hand carried to the Board of Elections office up until 7:30 p.m. Election Day,” Witham said. “No absentee ballots will be accepted at the polling place.”
The Board of Elections office will be open Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. for the final 18 hours of early/absentee voting.
“Monday, November 7, the early/absentee voting ends,” Witham said. “After that, votes must be cast at the voter's registered precinct. These rules and times apply to all of Ohio's 88 counties.”
Witham also reminded Highland County voters that “there is no campaigning within 100 feet of the polling location door.”
“No campaign shirts, hats, buttons, or talking about candidates while in line,” Witham said.
• • •
The Highland County commissioner race includes Republican Terry L. Britton; Independent Alex Butler; and Democrat Tara Campbell.
A lifelong Highland County resident, Britton retired from the Hobart Corporation in Hillsboro after over 42 years of work, including management for 35 of the 42 years. He currently serves as a member of the Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education and was recently sworn in for his second four-year term after being reelected last November. He currently serves as board president.
Britton outlined his plans for the county, if elected, in three words: Family, finance and fairness. For “family,” Britton wants to help Highland County families through economic development and tackling local drug issues through education. If elected, Britton said that he vows to be a “good steward of county funds,” using his experience in budgeting to ensure “fiscal responsibility to all” for the finance aspect of his plan. Britton also promises “fairness” by listening to all citizens and making common-sense, informed decisions.
Butler graduated from Hillsboro High School in 2009 and received an associate’s degree in Biblical Studies from Cincinnati Christian University in 2011 and a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Xavier University in 2014. He has recently been employed with Jarvis Corp., a Chicago-based LED light manufacturer.
If elected, Butler outlined several goals he would like to achieve as commissioner, including working across the political aisle and bringing a fresh perspective and enthusiastic leadership to achieve long-term progress in the county.
Butler also hopes to “aggressively solicit new investment and work on the further expansion of the county’s existing manufacturing base, in order to create more/new jobs.” Butler also said he wants to “work closely with law enforcement in an attempt to mitigate the drug epidemic and rein in the skyrocketing costs of Job and Family Services as a result of the epidemic.”
Campbell is currently employed through Highland County Community Action as the director of workforce services. Before joining Community Action, Campbell worked for the State of Ohio in the Job and Family Services office. She is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where she served as a military police officer from 1999-2003, and the United States Army Reserve, serving from 2011-13. She has over 12 years of public and social service, including her service in the military.
Campbell outlined three of her goals as Highland County Commissioner as: being accessible to the ideas and needs of Highland County citizens; continuing to grow and seek out opportunities for economic development; and researching ways to decrease barriers in the community such as addiction treatment facilities and public transportation opportunities.
• • •
Issue 7 and Issue 8 are both county-wide issues regarding proposed tax levies.
Issue 7, which will also be on the ballot for Fayette, Pickaway, Pike and Ross county voters, is “an additional tax for the benefit of the Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMH) Board for the purpose of meeting the current expenses of the joint county alcohol, drug addiction and mental health service district at a rate not exceeding one mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to ten cents ($0.10) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 10 years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.”
In a press release issued July 25, the ADAMH board stated that “funds generated from passage of the 1 mill levy will be used to support a range of mental health and substance abuse services, including crisis, detox, treatment and prevention programming” in ADAMH’s five-county area.
If passed, the levy would generate roughly $4.5 million annually, and the cost to a homeowner on a $100,000 home is approximately $35 per year.
Issue 8 is “an additional tax for the benefit of Highland County for the purpose of the support of children services and the care and placement of children by the Highland County Children Services at a rate not exceeding 1.9 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.19 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.”
The current children services levy is nine-tenths of a mill, and Highland County Commissioner Shane Wilkin said in a July 12 meeting that it was “designed to handle a workload of about 60 kids in care.” Highland County Job and Family Services Executive Director Katie Adams told The Highland County Press on Oct. 21 that there are currently 110 kids in care.
If passed, the levy would generate approximately $1.479 million in funding for children services, and the cost to a homeowner on a $100,000 home is approximately $59.85 per year.
• • •
Several other levies will be considered by select precincts, including:
• Issue 1, a proposed additional tax levy for the Village of Lynchburg, which will be on the ballot for the 37-1 Lynchburg precinct. The levy is for “providing and maintaining motor vehicles, communications, other equipment, buildings, and sites for such buildings used directly in the operation of a police department, or the payment of salaries of permanent or part-time police, communications, or administrative personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under section 145.48 or 742.33 of the Revised Code at a rate not exceeding 3 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.30 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.”
• Issue 2, a proposed tax levy renewal for New Market Township. The issue will be on the ballot for 73-1 New Market and 73-2 New Market. The levy would renew a tax for the purpose of maintaining and operating township cemeteries at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.05 for each one hundred of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.
• Issue 3, a local liquor option for Sunday liquor sales at the New Market Food Mart. The issue will be on the ballot for 73-1 New Market and 73-2 New Market.
• Issue 4, a proposed additional tax levy for Union Township for the purpose of maintaining and operating cemeteries at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.05 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017. The issue will be considered by the 85-1 Union, 85-2 Union, 85-3 Union, 85-4 Union and 85-5 Union precincts.
• Issue 5, a proposed replacement tax levy for the Clinton Highland Joint Fire District, which will be considered by the 80-2 Penn and 80-3 Penn precincts in Highland County. The tax levy is for providing fire protection, ambulance, paramedic or other emergency medical services at a rate not exceeding 4.3 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 43 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.
• Issue 6, a proposed income tax levy for the Fayetteville-Perry Local School District. In Highland County, this issue will be considered by the 83-2 Salem precinct. The issue is for an annual income tax of 0.5 percent on the earned income of individuals residing in the Fayetteville-Perry Local School District for three years, beginning Jan. 1, 2017, for current expenses.
• • •
Incumbent Senator Rob Portman will face former Governor Ted Strickland in the U.S. Senate race. Portman, a Republican, was elected to the Senate in 2010. Strickland, the Democratic nominee, has previously served as a congressman as well as governor of Ohio.
Republican Brad Wenstrup, who was elected in 2012, will face Democrat William R. Smith for the Second District Representative to Congress seat.
Braydon Bevens of Waverly, a small business owner specializing in property management, faces Nick Owens, an assistant prosecutor in Brown County, for the State School Board 10th District race.
Two new Ohio Supreme Court justices will be elected, with Justices Judith Ann Lanzinger and Paul Pfeifer set for retirement. For Justice Lanzinger’s seat, Judge Pat Fischer will face Judge John P. O’Donnell. Fischer was elected to the Ohio First District Court of Appeals in November 2010, while O’Donnell has served as judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas since 2002.
Judge Pat DeWine and Judge Cynthia Rice are on the ballot to replace Justice Pfeifer. Both candidates are currently serving as appellate judges, with DeWine serving on the First District Court of Appeals and Rice as the presiding judge of the 11th District Court of Appeals.
Incumbent Judge Matthew W. McFarland will face Valarie K. Gerlach in the race for the Fourth District Court of Appeals (Feb. 9, 2017 term). McFarland currently lives in Scioto County and has also served as a prosecutor and magistrate. Gerlach is an attorney based in Portsmouth.
A number of current officeholders are running unopposed for re-election, including: State Representative (91st District) Cliff Rosenberger; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Maureen O’Connor; county commissioner Shane Wilkin; prosecutor Anneka P. Collins; clerk of courts Dwight O. Hodson; sheriff Donald E. Barrera; recorder Chad E. McConnaughey; treasurer Vickie L. Warnock; engineer P. Dean Otworth; and coroner Dr. Jeff Beery.
“The Highland County Board of Elections, staff and precinct election officials are dedicated to making sure every legitimate ballot counts,” Witham said.
With just over one week remaining, over 17 percent of Highland County voters have cast their vote for the 2016 general election.
According to Highland County Board of Elections administrator Steve Witham, 4,851 absentee ballots have been processed as of Monday, Oct. 31 (17.5 percent of registered voters), with 1,941 of those ballots cast in person.
“Absentee ballots by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 7, or they can be hand carried to the Board of Elections office up until 7:30 p.m. Election Day,” Witham said. “No absentee ballots will be accepted at the polling place.”
The Board of Elections office will be open Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. for the final 18 hours of early/absentee voting.
“Monday, November 7, the early/absentee voting ends,” Witham said. “After that, votes must be cast at the voter's registered precinct. These rules and times apply to all of Ohio's 88 counties.”
Witham also reminded Highland County voters that “there is no campaigning within 100 feet of the polling location door.”
“No campaign shirts, hats, buttons, or talking about candidates while in line,” Witham said.
• • •
The Highland County commissioner race includes Republican Terry L. Britton; Independent Alex Butler; and Democrat Tara Campbell.
A lifelong Highland County resident, Britton retired from the Hobart Corporation in Hillsboro after over 42 years of work, including management for 35 of the 42 years. He currently serves as a member of the Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education and was recently sworn in for his second four-year term after being reelected last November. He currently serves as board president.
Britton outlined his plans for the county, if elected, in three words: Family, finance and fairness. For “family,” Britton wants to help Highland County families through economic development and tackling local drug issues through education. If elected, Britton said that he vows to be a “good steward of county funds,” using his experience in budgeting to ensure “fiscal responsibility to all” for the finance aspect of his plan. Britton also promises “fairness” by listening to all citizens and making common-sense, informed decisions.
Butler graduated from Hillsboro High School in 2009 and received an associate’s degree in Biblical Studies from Cincinnati Christian University in 2011 and a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Xavier University in 2014. He has recently been employed with Jarvis Corp., a Chicago-based LED light manufacturer.
If elected, Butler outlined several goals he would like to achieve as commissioner, including working across the political aisle and bringing a fresh perspective and enthusiastic leadership to achieve long-term progress in the county.
Butler also hopes to “aggressively solicit new investment and work on the further expansion of the county’s existing manufacturing base, in order to create more/new jobs.” Butler also said he wants to “work closely with law enforcement in an attempt to mitigate the drug epidemic and rein in the skyrocketing costs of Job and Family Services as a result of the epidemic.”
Campbell is currently employed through Highland County Community Action as the director of workforce services. Before joining Community Action, Campbell worked for the State of Ohio in the Job and Family Services office. She is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where she served as a military police officer from 1999-2003, and the United States Army Reserve, serving from 2011-13. She has over 12 years of public and social service, including her service in the military.
Campbell outlined three of her goals as Highland County Commissioner as: being accessible to the ideas and needs of Highland County citizens; continuing to grow and seek out opportunities for economic development; and researching ways to decrease barriers in the community such as addiction treatment facilities and public transportation opportunities.
• • •
Issue 7 and Issue 8 are both county-wide issues regarding proposed tax levies.
Issue 7, which will also be on the ballot for Fayette, Pickaway, Pike and Ross county voters, is “an additional tax for the benefit of the Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMH) Board for the purpose of meeting the current expenses of the joint county alcohol, drug addiction and mental health service district at a rate not exceeding one mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to ten cents ($0.10) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 10 years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.”
In a press release issued July 25, the ADAMH board stated that “funds generated from passage of the 1 mill levy will be used to support a range of mental health and substance abuse services, including crisis, detox, treatment and prevention programming” in ADAMH’s five-county area.
If passed, the levy would generate roughly $4.5 million annually, and the cost to a homeowner on a $100,000 home is approximately $35 per year.
Issue 8 is “an additional tax for the benefit of Highland County for the purpose of the support of children services and the care and placement of children by the Highland County Children Services at a rate not exceeding 1.9 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.19 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.”
The current children services levy is nine-tenths of a mill, and Highland County Commissioner Shane Wilkin said in a July 12 meeting that it was “designed to handle a workload of about 60 kids in care.” Highland County Job and Family Services Executive Director Katie Adams told The Highland County Press on Oct. 21 that there are currently 110 kids in care.
If passed, the levy would generate approximately $1.479 million in funding for children services, and the cost to a homeowner on a $100,000 home is approximately $59.85 per year.
• • •
Several other levies will be considered by select precincts, including:
• Issue 1, a proposed additional tax levy for the Village of Lynchburg, which will be on the ballot for the 37-1 Lynchburg precinct. The levy is for “providing and maintaining motor vehicles, communications, other equipment, buildings, and sites for such buildings used directly in the operation of a police department, or the payment of salaries of permanent or part-time police, communications, or administrative personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under section 145.48 or 742.33 of the Revised Code at a rate not exceeding 3 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.30 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.”
• Issue 2, a proposed tax levy renewal for New Market Township. The issue will be on the ballot for 73-1 New Market and 73-2 New Market. The levy would renew a tax for the purpose of maintaining and operating township cemeteries at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.05 for each one hundred of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.
• Issue 3, a local liquor option for Sunday liquor sales at the New Market Food Mart. The issue will be on the ballot for 73-1 New Market and 73-2 New Market.
• Issue 4, a proposed additional tax levy for Union Township for the purpose of maintaining and operating cemeteries at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.05 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017. The issue will be considered by the 85-1 Union, 85-2 Union, 85-3 Union, 85-4 Union and 85-5 Union precincts.
• Issue 5, a proposed replacement tax levy for the Clinton Highland Joint Fire District, which will be considered by the 80-2 Penn and 80-3 Penn precincts in Highland County. The tax levy is for providing fire protection, ambulance, paramedic or other emergency medical services at a rate not exceeding 4.3 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 43 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.
• Issue 6, a proposed income tax levy for the Fayetteville-Perry Local School District. In Highland County, this issue will be considered by the 83-2 Salem precinct. The issue is for an annual income tax of 0.5 percent on the earned income of individuals residing in the Fayetteville-Perry Local School District for three years, beginning Jan. 1, 2017, for current expenses.
• • •
Incumbent Senator Rob Portman will face former Governor Ted Strickland in the U.S. Senate race. Portman, a Republican, was elected to the Senate in 2010. Strickland, the Democratic nominee, has previously served as a congressman as well as governor of Ohio.
Republican Brad Wenstrup, who was elected in 2012, will face Democrat William R. Smith for the Second District Representative to Congress seat.
Braydon Bevens of Waverly, a small business owner specializing in property management, faces Nick Owens, an assistant prosecutor in Brown County, for the State School Board 10th District race.
Two new Ohio Supreme Court justices will be elected, with Justices Judith Ann Lanzinger and Paul Pfeifer set for retirement. For Justice Lanzinger’s seat, Judge Pat Fischer will face Judge John P. O’Donnell. Fischer was elected to the Ohio First District Court of Appeals in November 2010, while O’Donnell has served as judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas since 2002.
Judge Pat DeWine and Judge Cynthia Rice are on the ballot to replace Justice Pfeifer. Both candidates are currently serving as appellate judges, with DeWine serving on the First District Court of Appeals and Rice as the presiding judge of the 11th District Court of Appeals.
Incumbent Judge Matthew W. McFarland will face Valarie K. Gerlach in the race for the Fourth District Court of Appeals (Feb. 9, 2017 term). McFarland currently lives in Scioto County and has also served as a prosecutor and magistrate. Gerlach is an attorney based in Portsmouth.
A number of current officeholders are running unopposed for re-election, including: State Representative (91st District) Cliff Rosenberger; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Maureen O’Connor; county commissioner Shane Wilkin; prosecutor Anneka P. Collins; clerk of courts Dwight O. Hodson; sheriff Donald E. Barrera; recorder Chad E. McConnaughey; treasurer Vickie L. Warnock; engineer P. Dean Otworth; and coroner Dr. Jeff Beery.
“The Highland County Board of Elections, staff and precinct election officials are dedicated to making sure every legitimate ballot counts,” Witham said.