Field set for March primary elections in Lorain County

The field is set with candidates running in the March primary, with four Republicans looking to unseat two incumbent Democratic commissioners who are up for election. Meanwhile, a new county coroner likely is to be elected without a primary challenge and incumbent Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will is facing a primary challenge from a fellow Democrat. The deadline to register to vote in the March primary election is Feb. 18. Some races could see additions with independents who file, but they are not require to do until March 16, the day before the primary. The field of candidates, according to the Lorain County Board of Elections, looks as follows: Commissioner Commissioner Sharon Sweda, a Democrat from Amherst, will face the winner of the primary contest between two Republican candidates: Former North Ridgeville Mayor G. David Gillock and former one-term Lorain County Commissioner David Moore, of Amherst. Gillock said Wednesday he has "a unique skill set to use at the county level." He said he filed to run against Sweda because the seat was an appointed one and "probably has the least experience, so I just felt that I'd have a better chance." "In talking to the Republican Party, I've always considered running and that's where I also felt I would have the best opportunity," Gillock said. Facing off against Sweda's fellow Democrat, incumbent Commissioner Lori Kokoski who is seeking her fifth term as commissioner, will be the winner of another Republican primary race between North Ridgeville Councilwoman Michelle Hung and Avon Lake attorney Gerald W. Phillips. Sweda was appointed by her fellow Democrats to finish former Commissioner Ted Kalo's unexpired term in February. Kalo resigned to become the Lorain Municipal Clerk of Courts. Besides having held elected office, Moore and Hung were co-chairs of the Lorain County campaign to elect President Trump in 2016. Coroner After serving 10 years as the appointed or elected coroner of Lorain County, Dr. Stephen Evans did not file for re-election and will leave office in December 2020 with 28 years on the job, he said. Evans said Wednesday that he will turn 70 next year and it was "time to retire, I think." Evans said he is putting his full support behind his chief deputy and fellow Republican, Dr. Frank P. Miller III of Columbia Station, who filed Wednesday to succeed him. When Evans announced his decision, "I decided to take over as coroner and filed to run," Miller said. He does not face a primary challenge, meaning he is likely to be Lorain County's next coroner. Miller is "one of a few forensic pathologists in the state of Ohio and one of the best, so I'm leaving the department in good hands," Evans said. "We're fortunate in Lorain County to have someone like him to take over." Miller is the former Cuyahoga County coroner and a career forensic pathologist. He has been chief deputy coroner for Lorain County since July 2011, and was a deputy coroner in Cuyahoga County before being elected to the top post there in August 2007. Cuyahoga County later moved to a charter form of government, which eliminated the elected coroner's position in favor of an appointed chief medical examiner. Miller then moved to Lorain County and has been here since. No Democrats filed to run for coroner as of the filing deadline. Evans said Lorain County is lucky to have someone of Miller's stature living and working here. "He could go anywhere in the world, he's that well-thought of," Evans said. "We're lucky he's willing to stay. ... He will take us to the next level. He's someone I have full confidence in." Prosecutor The county prosecutor's race will see a primary contest between Will, the county's elected prosecutor for the last 15 years, and challenger JD Tomlinson, an attorney in private practice. Tomlinson announced his candidacy Tuesday. The winner of that contest will face Republican challenger Robert Gargasz in the fall. Recorder With no primary to be run, incumbent Democrat Judy Nedwick faces a challenge from Republican Mike Doran of North Ridgeville in the fall. Doran ran as a Libertarian candidate for Lorain County auditor in 2018 but lost to the incumbent, Craig Snodgrass. Other county races Unopposed in their countywide races as of the filing deadline were incumbent Democrats including Probate Judge James Walther, Clerk of Courts Tom Orlando, Sheriff Phil Stammitti, Engineer Ken Carney and Treasurer Daniel Talarek. Ohio House In races to represent Lorain County in the Ohio House of Representatives, there are no primary challenges. In the fall, however, there will be three seats up for grabs. Incumbent State Rep. Gayle Manning, a Republican from North Ridgeville, is facing a challenge from Democrat Zach Stepp of Sheffield for the 55th House District seat. Incumbent State Rep. Joe Miller, a Democrat from Amherst, is being challenged by Republican Bradley A. Lacko, also of Amherst, for the 56th House District seat. Incumbent State Rep. Dick Stein, a Republican from Norwalk, has a challenger in Democrat Dara Adkison of Columbia Station, for the 57th House District seat. Congress U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat from Toledo, will face one of two prospective Republican challengers — Charles W. Barrett and Tim Connors — for Ohio's 9th Congressional District. Three Democrats — Shannon M. Freshour of Marysville, Jeffrey A. Sites of Lima and Mike Larsen of Plain City — now have filed to run in the primary for the 4th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Jim Jordan. Steve Perkins, a Libertarian candidate from Pataskala, also has filed to run against Jordan. Rep. Bob Gibbs, a Republican from Lakeville, faces challengers including Democrat Patrick Pikus of Canton and Libertarian Brandon Lape of Danville who are seeking the 7th Congressional District seat, according to the Stark County Board of Elections. Other races Bob Meilander, mayor of Kipton, filed to run for Republican Central Committeeman, while Patty Stein of Norwalk filed for Republican Central Committeewoman. Eric Defibaugh of Sheffield and Christina Marie Holloway of LaFayette both have filed for Libertarian State Central Committee for the 4th Congressional District. Issues Wednesday also was the deadline for levies to appear on the primary ballot. Voters will see the following issues on their ballots on March 17: a 10-year, 1.8-mill renewal plus a 0.5-mill increase for a total of 2.3-mills for education, job prep, technology, operations and improvements at Lorain County Community College; a five-year, 1.5-mill renewal levy for the city of Avon Lake for current expenses; a five-year, 2.0-mill renewal for fire and EMS service in Rochester Township; a five-year, 0.5-mill renewal for ambulance and EMS service in Sheffield Township; a 15-year, 0.73-mill additional improvement bond levy for the Amherst Public Library; a 20-year, 2.0-mill additional levy for current expenditures and construction for the Avon Public Library; a five-year, 2.75-mill replacement levy for fire department purposes for the Wellington Community Fire District; three five-year renewals for levies in North Ridgeville, including a 1.95-mill police levy, a 1.9-mill fire levy and a 1.9-mill roads and bridges levy; a 10-year, 11.72-mill substitute levy for the North Ridgeville school district for necessary requirements of the school district; and local options for Sunday sales at the C Supermarket in Ward 2, Precinct D, and at the Elyria Food Mart in Ward 6, Precinct B, both in Elyria. Reporter Dylan Reynolds contributed to this story. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him at @daveobrienCT on Twitter.