Ballot features contested races mainly in townships (Athens

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Orange and Brown
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Ballot features contested races mainly in townships (Athens

Post by Orange and Brown »

WRITTEN BY DAVID DEWITT
MONDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2009 09:10

While the election ballot is devoid of big spectacular races this fall, Athens County voters will have a number of decisions to make, including three state ballot issues, numerous township and school-board races, and a variety of countywide and local issues.

The city of Athens has only one contested race in the Nov. 3 election, with Democrat Christine Fahl squaring off with Republican Randy Morris for Athens’ Fourth Ward seat, currently held by Fahl.

All other members of council are on the ballot for re-election with no opposition, including Council President Bill Bias. Athens City Treasurer Mary Ann McClure is also on the ballot facing no opposition.

Athens County Municipal Judge William A. Grim is up for re-election on the official judicial nonpartisan ballot, also with no opposition.

The city of Nelsonville has Dorothy R. Gettle running for re-election as the sole name for treasurer. At-large council members whose terms will expire include Kevin Dotson, Sandra McConnel, Anita Mondo and Charles Smith. Of these officials, only Dotson has filed with the Board of Elections for re-election. Three other candidates have filed for council at-large in Nelsonville, including Mark Hall, Sr., Cory W. Taylor and Bill Theisen, longtime Athens County commissioner who opted not to run for re-election in 2008.

Incumbent Athens City School Board members Jeffery C. Dill and Bruce D. Nottke are seeking re-election. Joining them on the ballot is non-incumbent Christian S. Gerig. Those are the three seats up for election.

Nelsonville-York School Board President Roberta J. Bunting is on the ballot, while Micah Covert is running as a write-in candidate. Two seats are open.

Alexander School Board member Gordon Brooks, as well as Vice President Mike Chapman and President Fred Davis are all on the ballot for the three seats up for election..

Federal Hocking School Board incumbents Dan Dailey and John Young are on the ballot for re-election, while others vying for the board include Chris Adams, Lester Green, Tom McGuire and Robert Pollock. Three seats are open.

Trimble School District President Sherry Downs is on the ballot for re-election, as is member Steve Miller. Terry Holbert, Lara Hooper and Erica North are also seeking position on the board. Three seats are open.

Each township in Athens County is having a trustee election for two of three seats, with most of them contested. The Board of Elections has a sample ballot on its Web site at http://athensboardofelections.com/default.aspx

BALLOT ISSUES INCLUDE SEVERAL levies up for renewal, while several additional levies will go to voters. Of the new levies, one would provide Athens-Hocking-Perry Community Action’s Meals on Wheels program with a $200,000 increase in funds for Athens County.

Community Action Executive Director Bob Garbo said a similar levy was passed two years ago in Hocking County for the same 0.25 millage as is being proposed for Athens County. That levy passed with 62 percent support, he said.

"It will give us the match money that we need to make up for deficits that occur sometimes because the folks don’t have enough money to contribute toward their meals," Garbo said previously. "It will also allow us to reduce, and, quite likely, eliminate our waiting list."

In the city of Athens, residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether to grant officials the authority to negotiate group gas rates that could potentially lower costs.

Called aggregation, this is a tool local governments can use to negotiate better natural-gas prices for city residents by joining together into one large buying group. Advocates say the buying group would then have increased “buying power” creating more stable prices for members. If a ballot measure is passed, a city is then free to negotiate rates and choose a supplier. All eligible residents are automatically included in the approved program unless they choose to opt out.

“The hope is that we would be able to save money as a city,” at-large council member Elahu Gosney told other council members. “Not all communities are able to achieve that. But, accordantly, any plan that’s put together would come before council before it would be put in place.”

Other levies on the ballot include a 1.5-mill police protection levy in the village of Albany and a 3-mill police protection levy in the village of Glouster. Also, Lodi Township has an additional 1-mill levy on the ballot for road maintenance.

Several other levies are up for renewal or replacement.

While there are no national or statewide races on the ballot, the state of Ohio will have three ballot issues, one to approve casino gambling (Issue 3), one to create a livestock care standards board (Issue 2, see related story), and one to allow bonuses for war veterans (Issue 1).


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