With the 2020 primary election season in full swing, voters will get their chance to vote in the presidential primary in March – on St. Patrick’s Day, but there is plenty to consider before the primary comes around. Locally, several candidates have filed to run for public office that will appear on your ballot and early voting started this week. As of Sunday evening, only 253 voters had either requested an absentee ballot by mail or voted early in the Board of Elections office. Of those 253, 187 voters had requested a Republican absentee ballot and 66 voters had requested a Democratic ballot.
Here is rundown on the races that you can expect to find on your ballot:
County Commissioner (January 2nd term) – Incumbent Teresa Diane Ward of Franklin Township is being challenged by Dane Clark of West Union. Both are Republicans. No Democrat filed for this office.
County Commissioner (January 3rd term) – Incumbent Barbara Moore of Cherry Fork is being challenged by Troy Dotson of Seaman. Both are Republicans, no Democrat filed to run for this office.
Clerk of Courts – Incumbent Clerk of Courts Larry Heller is defending his seat against Helen Cluxton Williams and Holly Johnson. All three are Republicans, no Democrat filed to run for the position.
The Sheriff (Kim Rogers), Prosecutor (David Kelley), Coroner (David Parrett), Treasurer (Lisa Newman) and Engineer are running unopposed. County Engineer David Hook is retiring and his Deputy Engineer Lee Pertuset will take his place as he is the only candidate running for the position. All are Republicans.
For the Second Congressional District, incumbent Brad Wenstrup will face a primary challenge from H. Robert Harris of Manchester. Both men are Republicans. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Jaime Castle.
For the Ohio Senate, Republican incumbent Terry Johnson, who was appointed several months ago, will face former Clermont County Commissioner David Uible. The winner of the primary contest will face Democrat Ryan Otney of New Boston in November.
The lone non-judicial Democrat elected to the county courthouse, Mark Tolle is running unopposed in the primary, but will be challenged in the fall by Republican Chris Moore of Eckmansville.
As required by Ohio law, the Adams County Board of Elections office is open later most days during early voting. Beginning February 24th through February 28th the office will be open each day from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. On March 2nd through March 6th from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m and March 9th through March 13th from 8 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. In addition, the Board of Elections will be open on Saturday, March 7th from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and March 14th. The office will also have one day of Sunday voting on March 15th from 1:00 p.m. until 5 p.m.
The deadline to register to vote was last week. You can request information regarding an absentee ballot by contacting the Adams County Board of Elections at 937-544-2633.
