(Posted Nov. 3, 2021)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
With a handful of votes separating candidates, some races in the Nov. 2 general election in Madison County are too close to call at this time.
One example is the race for at-large seats on London city council. Four candidates ran for three at-large seats. Joshua Peters and John J. Stahl appear to have secured two of the three seats, earning 30.17 percent of the vote and 23.69 percent of the vote, respectively. Who gets the third seat is yet to be determined. As the tallies now stand, Brenda S. Russell has 742 (21.78 percent) votes to Gregory S. Eades’s 740 votes (21.72 percent). The fourth candidate, Carla Blazier, who ran as a write-in, received 2.35 percent of the vote.
Other close races include Mount Sterling council, one of the Plain City council races, Somerford Township trustees, and Jefferson Local school board.
Madison-Plains Local Schools’ request for renewal of an income tax appears to have passed by a narrow margin. The tally was close for the Madison County Emergency Medical District’s request for a tax renewal with an increase. Jefferson Township’s attempt at a tax levy for a new fire station and operating expenses failed 777-1,098. All other issues on the ballot passed by substantial margins.
The results released by the Madison County Board of Elections on Election Night are considered unofficial. Still to be counted are provisional ballots and any outstanding absentee ballots. Absentee ballots postmarked by Nov. 1 and received by Nov. 12 will be included in the final tallies. The elections board has until Nov. 23 to certify the final results of the election.
Elections officials were surprised by the overall voter turnout. As of Nov. 2, 9,060 of Madison County’s 25,847 registered voters cast ballots in the Nov. 2 general election. That amounts to a 35 percent voter turnout. In November 2019, the last non-presidential election, the turnout was 23 percent.
“We were pretty shocked that it was as high as it was. We’re always happy with a high turnout,” said Abby Metheney, director of the Madison County Board of Elections.
UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS
The following are the unofficial results of the Nov. 2 general election in Madison County as reported by the Madison County Board of Elections on Election Night. The board has until Nov. 23 to certify the official results. Apparent winners are marked with an asterisk (*). No apparent winners are marked in races that are too close to call at this time.
ISSUES
Jefferson Township–5.5-mill property tax levy for a continuing period of time for a new fire station and operating expenses
For the levy 777 (41.44%)
*Against the levy 1,098 (58.65%)
Central Townships Joint Fire District–Renewal of a 4.75-mill tax levy for five years to provide fire protection
*For the levy 1,474 (64.37%)
Against the levy 816 (35.63%)
Madison County Emergency Medical District–Renewal of a 3-mill property tax levy with an increase of 1.75 mills for a total tax of 4.75 mills for five years for current expenses
*For the levy 1,190 (51.97%)
Against the levy 1,100 (48.03%)
City of London–Renewal, 2.1-mill property tax levy for five years for operating expenses
*For the levy 980 (61.40%)
Against the levy 616 (38.60%)
Madison-Plains Local Schools–Renewal of a 1.25 percent income tax for 10 years for current expenses
*For the levy 1,025 (50.59%)
Against the levy 1,001 (49.41%)
Range Township–Renewal, 1.7-mill property tax levy for five years for fire protection
*For the levy 236 (84.89%)
Against the levy 42 (15.11%)
Sterling Joint Ambulance District–Renewal of a 1.8-mill property tax for five years for operating expenses
*For the levy 820 (75.79%)
Against the levy 262 (24.21%)
Tri-County Joint Fire District–Renewal of a 2.5-mill property tax levy for five years for current expenses
*For the levy 477 (67.66%)
Against the levy 228 (32.34%)
West Jefferson–Charter amendment, development, redevelopment, public service
*Yes 458 (58.72%)
No 322 (41.28%)
West Jefferson–Charter amendment, hiring and appointment procedures
*Yes 489 (63.34%)
No 283 (36.66%)
West Jefferson–Charter amendment, council vacancies and removal of council members
*Yes 514 (67.01%)
No 253 (32.99%)
West Jefferson–Charter amendment, renumeration for council members and regular meetings
*Yes 465 (60.78%)
No 300 (39.22%)
London Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 950–Sunday sales of wine, mixed beverages and spiritous liquor from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays at 16 S. Union St.
*Yes 104 (65.82%)
No 54 (34.18%)
CANDIDATES
CITY OF LONDON GOVERNMENT
London council president
*Henry Comer (R) 1,176 (100%)
London city auditor
*Kenna Combs (R) 1.121 (100%)
London treasurer
*Sue Mosier 1,168 (100%)
London council at-large
(Three seats)
Carla S. Blazier (write-in) 80 (2.35%)
Gregory S. Eades (I) 740 (21.72%)
Joshua E. Peters (R) 1,028 (30.17%)
Brenda S. Russell (I) 742 (21.78%)
John J. Stahl (R) 807 (23.69%)
London council Ward 1
*Andrew A. Hitt 370 (100%)
London council Ward 2
*Richard M. Hays 356 (100%)
London council Ward 3
*David Anthony Smith 95 (100%)
London council Ward 4
*Bryan Robinson 271 (100%)
————
VILLAGE GOVERNMENT
Midway council
(Four seats)
*Peg Brown 49 (100%)
Mount Sterling council
(Four seats)
Shawnee Corbin 145 (15.61%)
Andrew Drake 175 (18.84%)
Craig Hix 130 (13.99%)
Robert Longcoy 160 (17.22%)
Becky Martin 152 (16.36%)
William D. Tilley 167 (17.98%)
Plain City mayor
(unexpired term)
*Jody Carney 729 (100%)
Plain City council
(full term ending 12-31-2023 – one seat)
Sherry L. Heineman 247 (32.33%)
Rochelle L. Pellegrene 174 (22.77%)
*James R. Sintz 343 (44.90%)
Plain City council
(full term ending 12-31-2025 – three seats)
James Eudaily 427 (20.89%)
Kerri Ferguson 386 (18.88%)
Lauren DeCamp Giaimo 347 (16.98%)
Tyler F. Harriman 370 (18.10%)
Michael Steven Terry 514 (25.15%)
West Jefferson council Ward 1
(One seat)
*Samantha Cahill 147 (67.12%)
Jim King 72 (32.88%)
West Jefferson council Ward 2
(One seat)
*Linda Hall 185 (100%)
West Jefferson council Ward 3
(One seat)
*Jennifer Warner 136 (100%)
West Jefferson council Ward 4
(One seat)
*Howard S. Wade Jr. 122 (100%)
————
TOWNSHIPS
Two trustee seats were up for election in each township, unless otherwise noted.
Canaan Township trustees
*Mark A. Ishmael 230 (38.92%)
*Don Whitmer 361 (61.08%)
Darby Township trustees
*Klaas R. Friesen 632 (49.57%)
*Myron Mast 643 (50.43%)
Deercreek Township trustees
*Charles Peters III (write-in) 13 (7.26%)
*Robert J. Turvey 160 (89.39%)
Fairfield Township trustees
*Steve R. Denes 227 (47.79%)
*Jeff Marshall 248 (52.21%)
Jefferson Township trustees
Leon Creamer 768 (26.84%)
*Jon Forrest 1,071 (37.43%)
*Steve Rohner 1,022 (35.72%)
Monroe Township trustees
*Phillip A. Adelsberger 174 (39.10%)
*Tony Frey 190 (42.70%)
Jeremy S. Straley 81 (18.20%)
Oak Run Township trustees
*Charles Farmer 113 (52.80%)
*Kelley Manns 101 (47.20%)
Paint Township trustees
*Phillip C. Eades 124 (56.62%)
*Jeff Kimbler 95 (43.38%)
Paint Township fiscal officer
(unexpired term – one seat)
*Valerie Eades 132 (100%)
Pike Township trustees
*Michael K. Boerger 84 (100%)
Pleasant Township trustees
*Darrell Champer 360 (48.13%)
*Brian Wilson Hampton 388 (51.87%)
Pleasant Township trustee
(unexpired term – one seat)
*Mark A. Harden 365 (62.29%)
Timothy J. Phillips 221 (37.71%)
Pleasant Township fiscal officer
(unexpired term – one seat)
*Katheryn I. Endres 547 (100%)
Range Township trustees
*Joel Daniel Call (write-in) 53 (14.60%)
John E. Griffith (write-in) 29 (7.99%)
David A. Junk (write-in) 44 (12.12%)
*Dennis K. Marshall 231 (63.64%)
Somerford Township trustees
Randy Boyce 510 (25.36%)
Bill Laney 411 (20.44%)
*Keith D. O’Connor 534 (26.55%)
*Ernie Sparks 556 (27.65%)
Stokes Township trustees
*Linton Ray Kelley 63 (47.73%)
*Jim Noble 69 (52.27%)
Union Township trustees
*Gary L. Bogenrife 216 (52.68%)
*Mike Sullivan 194 (47.32%)
————
SCHOOL BOARDS
Jonathan Alder
(Two seats)
Mary Jo Boyd 548 (15.39%)
*Erica Detweiler 1,178 (33.08%)
Shannon R. Foust 734 (20.61%)
*Sonia T. Walker 1,101 (30.92%)
London
(three seats)
*Ashli Carter 1,112 (15.08%)
*Donovan Cooper 1,424 (19.31%)
Marty Ditello 836 (11.34%)
*Marshall Geib 1,364 (18.50%)
Joseph Harris 830 (11.26%)
Marvin J. Homan 873 (11.84%)
Lisa Reay 934 (12.67%)
London
(unexpired term – one seat)
*Juliet Wendler 1,730 (100%)
Madison-Plains
(Three seats)
*Kelly I. Cooley 990 (33.79%)
*Bryan Stonerock 950 (32.42%)
*Anthoula A. Xenikis 990 (33.79%)
West Jefferson
(Two seats)
Tabatha Bowman 665 (21.33%)
*Whitney Duemmel 1,035 (33.19%)
Erica Fortune 627 (20.11%)
*Addie G. Newman 791 (25.37%)
