While one can hardly open a browser, turn on the TV, or tune in the radio without experiencing the avalanche of political advertising and rhetoric that is dominating the information highway, Logan County voters have very few strictly local races and issues to decide in the Nov. 5 General Election.
Adam Brannon, Logan County Board of Elections deputy director, said Monday, Oct. 21, that the board has been “hopping,” as approximately 600 people per day are voting early at the 225 S. Main St. office.
Of course, the top of the ticket features the hotly-contested presidential race, a position from Ohio in the U.S. Senate, as well as the seat for the Ohio 4th Congressional District. And depending on which half of the county one happens to live, two seats – the 83rd and 85th Districts – for the Ohio House of Representatives are in contention.
But as for local races, there is but one contested race that falls completely within the Logan County borders. Voters in Richland Township will be electing either Matthew W. Hurley or Kenneth A. Rogers to fill the seat of township trustee for an unexpired term, which ends Jan. 31, 2025.
No other contested local races will be on the Nov. 5 ballot.
As far as issues go, two will appear on ballots countywide.
The first is Issue 1, a statewide question which will alter the mechanism on how Ohio redistricts political boundaries within the state.
The second will only appear on Logan County ballots and is a 2.15 mill renewal tax for Logan County Children’s Services. The 2.15 mills amounts to $75 for each $100,000 of the Logan County Auditor’s appraised value of property.
Elsewhere around the county, Bellefontaine will be voting to allow the Sunday sales of beer, wine, mixed beverages and spiritous liquors for the Roundhouse Brewing Company, LLC, 217 W. Chillicothe.
West Mansfield residents will see an issue on their ballots, which is a renewal of a 3-mill property tax for current expenses, a tax which is expected to collect $26,000 annually for the village.
Voters who live in the Ridgemont Local School District are being asked to approve a 0.75 percent income tax for five years, while voters in the Triad Local School District will be voting on a 0.5 percent income tax for five years.
Both the Ridgemont and Triad levies would start Jan. 1, 2026, and both are for current expenses.
Perry Township residents will be asked to renew a 1-mill parks levy, which would collect $55,000 annually.