MOUNT VERNON — The leaves are falling, the days are shortening, it’s election season once again in Ohio.
Knox County voters will have plenty to decide come Nov. 8. They’ll determine a race for county commissioner, and they’ll vote on 15 local and state issues. They’ll also help decide 15 races at the state level.
Early voting began Oct. 12 and will continue through Nov. 7. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Nov. 5 at noon. Ballots returned via mail must be postmarked by Nov. 7. Ballots returned in-person must be submitted to the local Board of Elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 8, when the polls close.
Here’s what Knox County voters can expect to see on this year’s midterm ballot, according to the Knox County Board of Elections:
Candidates
Knox County voters will decide one contested race at the local level: that for the third and final seat on the county board of commissioners.
Republican Bill Pursel will square off against Democrat Roger Munday for the position. The winner will take office Jan. 1, 2023, and serve a four-year term.
The following county officials will run uncontested this fall: Republican Sarah Thorne, county auditor; Republican Richard Wetzel, county common pleas court judge; and Republican Tanner Salyers, county recorder.
At the state level, Knox County voters will help decide 15 contested races.
Republican Troy Balderson will square off against Democrat Amy Rippel-Elton for the right to represent Ohio’s 12th congressional district. This district includes Knox, Licking, Fairfield, Perry, Athens, Morgan, Muskingum, Guernsey and Coshocton counties, as well as parts of Delaware, Holmes and Tuscarawas counties.
Democrat Heather Swiger will face Republican Andrew Brenner for the right to represent Ohio’s 19th Senate district. This district includes Knox County, Delaware County and part of Franklin County.
Republican Darrell Kick will battle Annie Homstad, a write-in candidate with no party affiliation, for the right to represent Ohio’s 98th House district. This district includes the eastern half of Knox County, Holmes County and Coshocton County.
Democrat Luis Valentine will square off against Republican Beth Lear for the right to represent Ohio’s 61st House district. This district includes the western half of Knox County and Delaware County.
Four candidates will vie for two seats on the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals. Republican Andrew King will face off against Democrat Earle Wise Jr. for one seat on the bench, while Republican Craig Baldwin will battle Democrat David Ball for another.
This district includes Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Guernsey, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Richland, Stark and Tuscarawas counties.
Knox County voters will also help decide the following statewide races:
— Governor/lieutenant governor: Republicans Mike DeWine and Jon Husted vs. Democrats Nan Whaley and Cheryl Stephens
— Attorney general: Democrat Jeffrey A. Crossman vs. Republican Dave YostÂ
— State auditor: Republican Keith Faber vs. Democrat Taylor Sappington
— Secretary of state: Democrat Chelsea Clark vs. Republican Frank LaRose vs. Independent Terpsehore Tore Maras
— State treasurer: Republican Robert Sprague vs. Democrat Scott Schertzer
— U.S. Senator: Democrat Tim Ryan vs. Republican J.D. Vance
— Chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court: Democrat Jennifer Brunner vs. Republican Sharon Kennedy
— Ohio Supreme Court justice: Republican Pat Fischer vs. Democrat Terri Jamison
— Ohio Supreme Court justice: Democrat Marilyn Zayas vs. Republican Pat DeWine
Issues
Knox County voters will determine the fate of 14 local and state issues this fall. Here’s what will appear on the ballot:
— State Issue 1: A constitutional amendment that requires judges to consider public safety when setting bail, while also changing the branch of government responsible for setting bail amounts and conditions.
— State Issue 2: A constitutional amendment that would prohibit local governments from allowing non-citizens to vote in municipal elections.
— College Township: A one-mill replacement levy for the purpose of “providing and maintaining fire and EMS protection for five years.”
— Village of Martinsburg: A five-mill renewal levy “for current expenses for five years.”
— Milford Township: A three-mill replacement levy “for roads, streets and bridges for five years.”
— Middlebury Township: A two-mill replacement levy “for roads, streets and bridges for five years.”
— Pleasant Township: An additional one-mill levy “for fire and EMS protection for three years.”
— Howard Township: A one-mill renewal levy “for roads, streets and bridges for four years.”
— Berlin Township: A two-mill replacement levy “for roads, streets and bridges for four years.”
— Brown Township: A three-mill replacement levy “for roads, streets and bridges for five years.”
— Fredericktown Community Joint Emergency Ambulance District: A 0.6-mill renewal levy “for providing ambulance and emergency medical services for five years.”
— Danville Local School District: An additional three-mill levy “for permanent improvements for five years.”
— Knox County Park District: A .35-mill replacement levy “for developing and improving bike trails for five years.”
— Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities: A .25-mill renewal (and decrease) levy “for providing the operation of community programs and services for a continuing period of time.”
— Knox County Board of Health — A one-mill replacement (with an increase) levy “for current operating expenses for five years.”
In the coming weeks, Knox Pages will dive deeper into each race and issue that will appear on this year’s midterm ballot.
