Staff report
news@wbcowqel.com
Even without an abundance of local races, U.S. senate or presidential races, local voters will still find it worth their while to go to the polls Tuesday.
Two important local races will be decided: Crawford County Common Pleas Court judge and county auditor.
Sitting Judge Russell Wiseman is retiring from public office and voters will choose his successor on that bench. Their choices are Democrat candidate Magistrate Rob Neff Jr. and Republican candidate Municipal Court Judge Sean Leuthold.
Leuthold has sat on the Municipal Court bench for seven years. Neff has been a magistrate for Common Pleas Court for approximately seven years and also served as the law director for Bucyrus.
Likewise, the position of county auditor will also be occupied by someone other than the incumbent. Robin Hildebrand is also retiring. Voters will select either Republican Joan Wolfe or Democrat Leanna Hershey.
Hershey’s experience includes an associate’s degree in accounting and practical experience as an administrative assistant at a church and a trucking firm. Hershey also has earned multiple certificates in accounting and related activities.
Wolfe has worked in the auditor’s office for 27 years and was in the real estate and licensing divisions. Some of Wolfe’s responsibilities in the auditor’s office were the tax accounting system which involves calculating real estate taxes.
Running unopposed for local offices are incumbents County Commissioner Jenny Vermillion and Juvenile and Probate Court Judge Steven Eckstein.
Crawford County voters will also have the opportunity to voice their preferences in several other races including the Statehouse, statewide offices and one Congressional race.
The current 4th District Congressman, Republican Jim Jordan of Urbana, is running for re-election against Oberlin Democrat Janet Garrett. The representative in the 87th State House District is Republican Jeff McClain of Upper Sandusky. McClain’s bid for re-election is being challenged by Democrat Jeffrey Lehart of Galion who is making a second bid for that office.
Ohioans will determine the state’s next governor and lieutenant governor. Republican incumbents John Kasich and Mary Taylor are being challenged by Democrats Edward FitzGerald and Sharen Swartz Neuhardt and Green Party candidates Anita Rios and Bob Fitrakis.
The race for state attorney general is between Democrat David Pepper and Republican incumbent Mike DeWine.
Current Auditor of State Republican Dave Yost is being challenged by Libertarian candidate Bob Bridges and Democrat John Patrict Carney.
The same three parties will face off in a bid for the secretary of state’s office. Republican Jon Husted is the incumbent and the challengers are Democrat Nina Turner and Libertarian Kevin Knedler.
The battle for the treasurer of state is a two-person race between Democrat Connie Pillich and Republican incumbent Josh Mandel.
Vernon Preston is running unopposed for judge of the 3rd District Court of Appeals.
There are two seats for the Justice of the Supreme Court in Ohio on the ballot. Sharon Kennedy and Tom Leston are running for the term that begins Jan. 1. Judi French and John O’Donnell are running for the term that begins Jan. 2.