BUCYRUS—Wednesday was the due date for petitions for the May Primary Election to be filed by both Republican and Democratic candidates for several positions that are up for election in 2021. The petitions are considered “not certified” until the Crawford County Board of Elections meets on Feb. 11 to evaluate and certify them.
While there will be no primary races on May 4 on the Democratic side of the ballot, there will be a few Republican races that voters can cast their ballots for this spring.
Terry L. Spiegel is running against fellow Republican Christina Surgener for third ward Bucyrus City Council member to determine which one will run for the position in November. Spiegel ran against current Bucyrus City Council President Kurt Fankhauser for that position in 2018 and only lost the primary race by 11 votes. The third-ward council position is currently held by Douglas B. Foght who did not file a petition to run for re-election.
Fankhauser filed his petition to run for re-election in November for his position as Bucyrus City Council President with no other Republican or Democrat filing a petition to run for the position.
Republican Bruce Truka has been a Bucyrus City Council member for the past two decades but did not file a petition to run for re-election for his current position as the first ward council member. Two newcomers, Brenton Potter and Tracey Price, did file their petitions to run in the primary election.
Petitions for candidates running as Independents in the November election are not due until May 3, the day before the primary election.
Independent Lisa Alsept, who currently holds the position of fourth ward council member in Bucyrus, did not yet file a petition to run for re-election. No Democrat or Republican candidate filed to run for that position and for council-at-large, only two incumbents filed petitions, including Republicans Mark Makeever and Kevin Myers. No one filed to run for the third council-at-large position in the primary as a Democrat or Republican.
Democrat Aaron Sharrock filed her petition to run for the position of second ward council member that she was appointed to last year after fellow Democrat Candy Yocum resigned.
Jane A. Cremeans has held the position of Bucyrus City Treasurer for many years but did not file a petition this time. Fellow Republican Angela Miller did file a petition for the position.
In Crestline, four council positions are up for re-election. Three Republican candidates filed petitions, including incumbent Joy Miley and newcomers Garrett Looney and Cheryl Downey. Two incumbent Democrats also filed petitions, including Beverly Payne and Allen Laferty.
Independent candidates can pick up petitions currently to file by the May 3 deadline to run in the general election for any of these positions. Write-in candidates must file their declaration for candidacy by Feb. 22. For those not yet registered to vote, the deadline to register to be able to vote in the primary election on May 4 is April 5.