(Posted July 16, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
The deadline is approaching for candidates to file petitions to run for office in the Nov. 3 election. All petitions must be turned in to the Madison County Board of Elections by 4 p.m. Aug. 5.
Anyone interested in running for office should contact the Board of Elections for a petition packet. The packet includes instructions on how to fill out the petitions, how many signatures are needed for various races, and details about reporting campaign finances. Completed petitions must be submitted with a filing fee.
Seats up for election in November for which petitions can be filed are as follows:
School Boards
- Jefferson Local Schools—three seats, four-year terms
- Jonathan Alder Local Schools—three seats, four-year terms
- London City Schools—two seats, four-year terms
- Madison-Plains Local Schools—two seats, four-year terms
Townships
Each of Madison County’s 14 townships has one fiscal officer seat and at least one trustee seat up for election. Each seat comes with a four-year term. The townships are: Canaan, Darby, Deercreek, Fairfield, Jefferson, Monroe, Oak Run, Pike, Pleasant, Paint, Range, Somerford, Stokes and Union.
Village of Midway
- Mayor—four-year term
- Clerk-treasurer—four-year term
- Council—two seats, four-year terms
Village of Mount Sterling
- Mayor—four-year term
- Council—two seats, four-year terms
Village of Plain City
- Mayor—four-year term
- Council—two seats, four-year terms
Village of South Solon
- Mayor—four-year term
- Council—two seats, four-year terms
Village of West Jefferson
- Council at-large—three seats, four-year terms
Note: The candidates for the West Jefferson mayor’s race were determined through the May primary election process. They are Steven Johnston and Ray Martin. Write-ins are not permitted.
City of London
With the exception of any write-in candidates, the slate of candidates is set for seats up for election in the city of London. Partisan candidates were determined through the May primary election process. The deadline to file as an independent (I) candidate for these races was May 4. On July 14, the Board of Elections certified two candidates who filed as independents.
The London candidate list is as follows: Patrick Closser (R), mayor; Zahid Siddiqi (R), law director; Kathleen Hensel (R), city auditor; Jennifer Hitt (I), council president; Trint Hatt (R), council Ward 1; Richard Minner (R), council Ward 2; Lora Long (R), council Ward 3; Rex Castle (R), council, Ward 4; Megan M. Douglas (R), Roger T. Morris (R), Joshua E. Peters (R) and Brenda Russell (I), council at-large. One seat is open in all of the races, except council at-large, where three seats are up for election.
Note: Two other independent petitions were rejected. William Birmele did not have enough valid signatures, is not registered at the address he filed from, and did not specify which London council race he was running for. Michael Christopher Cox voted as a Republican in the May primary, which invalidated him as an independent candidate for London council.
Write-in candidates
Individuals also can file to run as write-in candidates for any of the races mentioned above, including school board, township, village and city seats. The only exception is West Jefferson mayor.
Write-in candidates are not required to collect signatures on petitions in order to run. They must file paperwork stating their intention to run, though; that deadline is Aug. 24. Write-in candidates’ names do not appear on the ballot.
More information
For more information about becoming a candidate, call the Board of Elections at (740) 852-9424. The office is located at 1423 State Route 38 SE, London, just north of Fairhaven School. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For details, go to www.electionsonthe.net/oh/madison.
The Board of Elections will meet Aug. 17 to certify petitions to determine whose names will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. If any write-in candidates file, the board will hold a special meeting to review those filings.
