By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
The Nov. 3 unofficial local election results from the Franklin County Board of Elections show three incumbents were unseated while seven others held onto their positions.
(See the election results further below.)
Canal Winchester
Incumbent city councilman Rick Deeds lost his seat as challengers Bob Clark and Mike Walker won council seats. Bruce Jarvis, who previously served on council, also won a council seat. Tim Waibel also ran, but did not win election to council.
Robert Toledo Jr. lost his seat on the Canal Winchester school board while fellow incumbent Matt Krueger and challenger Kevin Butler won the two seats up for election. Butler bested Toledo by 31 votes.
Mayor Mike Ebert was re-elected as he ran unopposed after his opponent, Victor Paini, dropped out of the race in September citing his work responsibilities.
Groveport and Groveport Madison
Mayor Lance Westcamp, who has been mayor since 1994 and is the longest serving mayor in Groveport’s history, won re-election by defeating challenger Dave Gale by 981 to 799 votes. The race was a rematch from 2011 when, in that election, Westcamp edged Gale by 12 votes.
“The greatest political victory in the history of Groveport was not this race, but rather the passing of the school levy (in 2014) because it was a victory for our children,” said Westcamp. “However, this race was the greatest personal victory for me because of the tremendous amount of support I received from the citizens of Groveport. The community embraced my campaign from the start and was with me the entire time – from the Fourth of July parade right up through the final count on Election Day. The margin of victory shows the residents of Groveport are happy with the direction my administration and council are taking our great city. I am humbled and will continue to work with an outstanding city council to insure that Groveport is the place to work, play, live and raise a family.”
Gale thanked his supporters stating, “I would like to thank all who supported and helped me through the election process. A special thanks to my special friends and my best friend, my wife Jan. She was amazing during the entire process and I couldn’t have done it without her.”
In the city council race, incumbents Shawn Cleary and Jean Ann Hilbert were unopposed and won re-election.
In the Groveport Madison school board race, incumbent Mary Tedrow was the top vote-getter and was re-elected. Christopher Snyder was elected to fill the seat left open when board member Nathan Slonaker opted not to run for re-election. Snyder won the seat by 63 votes over Maria McGraw.
Madison Township
Former Groveport Madison school board member John Kershner won a five-way race for Madison Township trustee. Incumbent Gary McDonald, who lost the seat to Kershner, came in second in the race. Others who ran included Sharon Whitten, Kathleen Walsh, and Kim Jordan.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve afforded to me by our voters,” said Kershner. “I am grateful for the help of so many friends and colleagues who made this possible. It was a long night for those of us waiting to see the election results. There were many great choices for trustee and all the candidates should be proud of the positive well run campaigns they spearheaded.”
Kershner thanked McDonald for his service as township trustee and said he is looking forward to working with township trustees Victor Paini and Ed Dildine.
He also thanked the voters stating, “I’ll work hard to ensure your trust in me is well placed and will not forget it was you who allowed me this opportunity to serve.”
Election information
According to Ben Piscitelli of the Franklin County Board of Elections, unofficial totals show 295,077 voters, 35.5 percent of those registered, turned out for the 2015 general election in Franklin County. The numbers include 37,732 voting absentee in-person or by mail with 10,916 provisional ballots cast.
Election results must be certified by the board of elections on or before Nov. 24. Visit vote.franklincountyohio.gov for information.
Canal Winchester mayor
(one to be elected)
Mike Ebert*……………………….2,027 (88%)
Candidate withdrawn……………289 (12%)
Canal Winchester City Council
(three to be elected)
Bob Clark*……………………….1,145 (21%)
Rick Deeds…………………….. 1,042 (19%)
Bruce Jarvis*……………………1,141 (21%)
Tim Waibel……………………….1,000 (18%)
Mike Walker*…………………….1,144 (21%)
Canal Winchester
Board of Education
(two to be elected)
Kevin W. Butler*…………………1,833 (30%)
Matt Krueger*……………………2,450 (40%)
Robert Toledo Jr………………..1,802 (30%)
Groveport mayor
(one to be elected)
Dave Gale………………………….799 (45%)
Lance M. Westcamp*…………..981 (55%)
Groveport City Council
(two to be elected)
Shawn M. Cleary*……………..1,147 (53%)
Jean Ann Hilbert*……………..1,025 (47%)
Groveport Madison
Board of Education
(two to be elected)
Maria J. McGraw……………….3,574 (32%)
Christopher Snyder*…………..3,637 (32%)
Mary Tedrow*……………………4,103 (36%)
Madison Township fiscal officer
(one to be elected)
Barb Adams*………………….4,221 (100%)
Madison Township trustee
(one to be elected)
Kimberly J. Jordan…………………522 (9%)
John A. Kershner*……………..1,692 (30%)
Gary D. McDonald…………….1,481 (27%)
Kathleen L. Walsh………………..753 (13%)
Sharon Whitten…………………1,183 (21%)
(* denotes winners)
(Unofficial election results according to the Franklin County Board of Elections.)
