Libertarian files as write-in to run for commissioner in March primary

The only write-in candidate to file to run in the March primary election is aiming for a seat on the Lorain County Board of Commissioners. William Daniel Fichtel, a Libertarian from Elyria, filed his candidacy with the Lorain County Board of Elections prior to the 4 p.m. filing deadline Monday. He will appear as a write-in option on the Libertarian ballot in Lorain County, Board of Elections Director Paul Adams said. Fichtel announced in the race for a county commissioner's seat that will see incumbent Democrat Lori Kokoski facing off against the winner of the Republican primary between North Ridgeville Councilwoman Michelle Hung and Avon Lake attorney Gerald Phillips. Fichtel will need to receive as many valid write-in signatures, 25, as would have been required on a petition to receive his party's nomination. If Fichtel does this, his name will advance to the November ballot where he will face the Democratic and Republican candidates, as well as any potential independent candidates, Adams said. The chairman of the Lorain County Libertarian Party when he challenged state Rep. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, for state representative in November 2018, Fichtel came in third in the field of three. Independent candidates have until 4 p.m. March 16, the day before the primary, to file to run for office. In other primary election news, two candidates have been disqualified from the ballot after filing to run against incumbent state Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville. Democrat Patrick Pikus, of Canton, and Libertarian Brandon Lape, of Danville, both were disqualified from the ballot after filing to run for the 7th Congressional District seat, according to the Stark County Board of Elections. Filing as a write-in in that same race Monday was Democrat Quentin Potter of Canton. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him at @daveobrienCT on Twitter.