The Logan County Grassroots Democrats conducted a Meet the Candidates and Leaders event Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Red Apple Barn, where candidates for both local and statewide offices addressed an audience of about 50 people.
Speakers at the event who addressed those gathered included: Sean Beck, West Central Ohio Rural Caucus leader; MacKenzie Myers Fitzpatrick, current Bellefontaine City Council member; Chris Gibbs, Ohio Rural Caucus president/Shelby County Democratic Party chair; Pam Grogean, Ohio House of Representatives candidate, 85th District; Elliot Forhan, Ohio Attorney General candidate; and Bryan Hambley, Ohio Secretary of State candidate. Those running for the positions noted will likely appear on ballots in the March 2026 primary election.
Also, the event also featured three speakers who will be before Bellefontaine voters in the upcoming Nov. 4 General Election — Sarah Lewis, Bellefontaine City Council First Ward; Tim Steinhelfer, Bellefontaine City Council at-large seat; and Miranda Warren, Bellefontaine City Council president.
The Bellefontaine Examiner interviewed the candidates who will be on the ballot next month and their responses can be found below. The recordings were slightly edited for clarity, but the responses from the candidates are presented in full.
Sarah Lewis, Bellefontaine City Council First Ward:
Tim Steinhelfer, Bellefontaine City Council at-large seat:
Miranda Warren, Bellefontaine City Council president:
