Lorain County ballot set for Nov. 7 general election

This story has been edited to reflect the following corrections: Gail Soinski Opaskar is running as a board member of the Avon Lake Board of Education as a new candidate, she is not an incumbent. She is one of three candidates, all running unopposed. Also, there are three seats up for election on the Vermilion school board. Shelly Innes, Krystal Russell and Ratiba Stillman are incumbents. The ballot is set for the upcoming Nov. 7 general election in Lorain County, after the filing deadline for candidates and issues to get in front of voters passed at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The candidates and issues will be certified at a Lorain County Board of Elections meeting at 3 p.m. Aug. 21, Director Paul Adams said. Issue numbers for the more than 40 separate Ohio constitutional amendments, tax levies, local liquor options and charter amendments will be announced at that meeting. Adams said the issues are numbered on a rotational basis. This year, the proposed reproductive rights amendment to the Ohio Constitution is likely to be Issue 1 on Nov. 7, followed by township, school district and county issues numbered in ascending order. Tuesday's special election final numbers also will be certified on Aug. 21. This week's Issue 1, a proposed amendment that would have made it more difficult for citizen-led initiatives to make the ballot, was soundly defeated by Ohio voters. Lorain County residents voted down the measure. Tuesday's final tally was 53,119 against Issue 1 to 31,489 for Issue 1, according to incomplete and unofficial results from the board of elections. Adams said there are 1,080 outstanding provisional ballots yet to be counted, along with 771 outstanding absentee ballots — not enough for a change in the final result, though both sides of the issue could gain some votes. The Nov. 7 ballot looks as follows: CANDIDATES Amherst Incumbent Republican Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow is unopposed for reelection, as is Law Director Anthony Pecora, a Democrat. The Amherst city auditor's office has two candidates vying for the unfinished term after former Auditor Derek Pittak resigned effective June 5. Councilman David Janik, D-At Large, will face Republican Brenda Phillips for the remainder of Pittak's term through 2025. Phillips is the current interim auditor, appointed by the city's Republican Central Committee in June. Incumbent Councilman Brian Dembinski, D-1st Ward, will face Republican challenger Kevin DeLong. Two newcomers will face off for Amherst's 2nd Ward: Appointed Republican candidate Kristin Dickerhoff and Democrat Becky Harmych. Incumbent Councilman Jake Wachholz, D-3rd Ward, is unopposed for reelection. Incumbent Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, D-4th Ward, withdrew from the ballot, prompting the city's Democratic Central Committee to replace her in the running this November with Melissa Brown. Brown will face Republican Matthew Nahorn, who held the seat prior to not seeking reelection in November 2021. Avon Mary Berges, Heidi Carrion, Brian Fischer, Michelle Patton and Craig Witherspoon are running to fill three At-Large City Council seats. All three seats are four-year terms and all are nonpartisan. Fischer and Witherspoon are incumbents. Incumbent Councilwoman Tammy Holtzmeier, At-Large, is not running for reelection. Avon Lake Ward 3 Councilman Mark Spaetzel and At-Large Councilman K.C. Zuber are running for mayor to replace incumbent Mayor Greg Zilka, who is not running for reelection. Ward 1 will see a challenge between Tracey Corbo and Rob Shahmir. Incumbent Ward 1 Councilwoman Billie Jo David is not seeking reelection. Ward 2 will see challenger Bob Brooks take on incumbent Councilwoman Jennifer Fenderbosch. The race to replace Spaetzel in Ward 3 will be between newcomer Amy Gentry and Deanna Leitner, who challenged Spaetzel for the Ward 3 seat four years ago and lost. Incumbent Ward 4 Councilman David Kos is running unopposed. John Dzwonczyk, David Rickey and Dana Schnabel are running unopposed for reelection to three seats on the Avon Lake Board of Municipal Utilities. All races are nonpartisan, and all seats are four-year terms.Avon Lake Municipal Court Allison Manning and Geoff Smith are running for a six-year term to replace Municipal Judge Darrel Bilancini, who is age-limited out of office. The court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor, traffic and minor civil cases filed in Avon, Avon Lake and Sheffield. The race is nonpartisan. Elyria Incumbent Mayor Frank Whitfield, an independent, is being challenged by Democrat Kevin Brubaker, Republican Alice Gobeille, and independent Bill Grace.Incumbent Law Director Amanda Deery, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Honey Howard.Elyria has four At-Large council seats up for election with Democrats Tom Callahan, Chad Schneider, Vic Stewart and Phil Tollett all seeking reelection. Their Republican challengers are John Gall, Garry Gibbs, James Noble and Ray Noble.Elyria has seven ward council seats up for election.In Ward 1, incumbent Andrew Lipian, an independent, is being challenged by Democrat Matthew Van Wormer.In Ward 3, incumbent Republican Maurice Corbin III will face Democrat Mary Siwierka and independent Evan Petrisko.In Ward 4, incumbent Democrat Kenny Oswald will face Republican Jeff Baxter and independent Patrick Spears.In Elyria's Ward 5, Democrat Brenda Warren will face independent Brad Armstrong for the seat currently held by Democrat Diane Simmons, who is not seeking reelection.In Ward 7 incumbent Democrat Jack Cerra will face independent Johnathan Whitfield Sr.Elyria council members Brenda Davis, D-2nd Ward, and Donna Mitchell, D-6th Ward are running unopposed for reelection.All council seats are two-year terms.Finance Director Ted Pileski, a Democrat, is running unopposed.Elyria Municipal Clerk of Courts Greg Fanning is challenging incumbent Eric Rothgery for a six-year term as municipal clerk of courts. The race is nonpartisan. Elyria Municipal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor, traffic and minor civil cases filed in Elyria, North Ridgeville, Grafton and LaGrange, as well as Carlisle, Columbia, Eaton, Elyria, Grafton and LaGrange townships. Lorain Vying for At-Large council seats are Republicans Raymond Dennis, Gilbert Garcia and Marlin Linger; incumbent Councilman Tony Dimacchia, D-at Large, and fellow Democrats Sylvia DuVall and Joseph Koziura; and Brandon Wysocki, an independent. Koziura most recently held the seat until June 2019, when he resigned to be appointed interim mayor after former Mayor Chase Ritenauer stepped down after the May 2019 primary. Incumbent Councilwoman Beth Henley, D-1st Ward, will face Josh Garcia, an independent. Democrat Antonio Baez is running unopposed for the 6th Ward after incumbent Councilman Rey Carrion chose not to seek reelection. Mary Spellacy is running unopposed for the 7th Ward, after defeating incumbent Councilman Cory Shawver in the May Democratic primary. Incumbent Councilman Joshua Thornsberry, D-8th Ward, will face independent Jacquelyn Batzel-Conrad. Incumbent Democrats Mayor Jack Bradley; Council President Joel Arredondo; Auditor Karen Shawver; Law Director Pat Riley; Councilwoman Victoria Kempton, D-2nd Ward; Councilwoman Pam Carter, D-3rd Ward; Councilman Dan Nutt, D-4th Ward; and Councilwoman JoAnne Moon, D-5th Ward, will appear unopposed on the November ballot. North Ridgeville Incumbent Republican Mayor Kevin Corcoran is facing a challenge from Democrat Paul Wolanski. Democrat Susan Olsen is challenging incumbent Republican Ward 1 Councilwoman Holly Swenk. Incumbent Democratic Ward 2 Councilman Dennis Boose is being challenged by Republican Eric Todd Shaffer. Republican incumbent Ward 4 Councilman Clifford Winkel will be challenged by Democrat Genevieve Flieger. Councilman Bruce Abens, R-Ward 3, is unopposed for reelection. All council seats are four-year terms. Oberlin Incumbent council members Bryan Burgess, Ray English, Eboni Johnson, Michael McFarlin, Elizabeth Meadows and Kristin Peterson will face challengers Frieda Fuchs, Libni Lopez, Jessa New, Joseph Peek and Joe Waltzer for seven at-large seats. Oberlin City Council is nonpartisan and each council member serves a two-year term. Sheffield Lake Incumbent Mayor Dennis Bring is being challenged by Ward 2 Councilman Rocky Radeff. Three At-large council seats are up for election, and incumbents Mark Cizl, Rosa Gee and Steve Kovach are running to retain their seats. Current Ward 4 Councilman Adam Shaw is running to take over one of those three seats from a sitting council member. Incumbent Richard Rosso is running unopposed for council president. All races are nonpartisan, and all are four-year terms. Vermilion Incumbent At-Large Councilman Steve Herron is running unopposed for council president. Monica Bauer, Beth Deck, and Gary Howell Jr. are all running for an open at-large council seat. Incumbent Ward 3 Councilwoman Teresa Mayle is facing a challenge from Drew Werley. Bauer, incumbent Councilwoman Barb Brady and Jeff Lucas are running for the Ward 4 seat. Incumbent Ward 5 Councilman Brian Holmes is being challenged by Richard Pall. Patricia West is unopposed in the 1st Ward. All races are nonpartisan, and all are two-year terms. Grafton Incumbent Mayor David DiVencenzo is being challenged by Charles Duke Jr. Stephanie Barnhart is running unopposed for clerk of council, while incumbents Pat McCort, Ward 3, and Lynette Kitts, Ward 4, are unopposed for reelection. All races are nonpartisan and all are four-year terms. Kipton Incumbent Mayor Bob Meilander is running unopposed for reelection, as is Councilwoman Patricia Eschen. The races are nonpartisan and the terms are four years. LaGrange Acting Mayor Gary Kincannon is running for mayor to replace the late Kim Strauss, who died in February. Incumbent Councilman Curtis Karpinski and challengers Chris Homoelle and Rhonda Smith are running to fill two open seats on Council. Incumbent Councilman Richard Honer is running unopposed to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2025. All races are nonpartisan and all terms are four years. Rochester No one filed by Wednesday's deadline to replace Mayor Cindy Kurpely, who announced in July that she wouldn't be running for another term when hers expires in December. Incumbent Village Councilwoman Sue Sparks is running unopposed for reelection. A second council seat also is open with no candidates, according to the board of elections. Sheffield With incumbent Mayor John Hunter not seeking reelection, the lone candidate for a four-year term as mayor is Bob Markovich, an incumbent Sheffield Village councilman. Mitchell Carr and incumbent Councilman Kevin Watkinson are running unopposed for two seats on Village Council. Carr is Hunter's grandson. South Amherst Incumbent South Amherst Mayor David Leshinski will face challenger Scott Jones this November. Jones is currently a member of Village Council. Incumbent council members Michele Jeffers and David Troike are both running unopposed for reelection to new four-year terms. All races in South Amherst are nonpartisan. Wellington Wellington Mayor Hans Schneider is running unopposed for reelection to another four-year term. Incumbent Village Council members Mark Bughman, Helen Dronsfield and Guy Wells and newcomer Stephen Boham will vie for three seats. Amherst Township Incumbent trustees David Abraham and David Urig, alongside newcomer Heath Baus, will vie for one nonpartisan trustee seat. Incumbent Fiscal Officer Christine Kish is running unopposed for reelection. All township trustee and fiscal officer races are nonpartisan, for four-year terms. Brighton Township Incumbent Trustee Kenneth Ziegler is unopposed. No one filed for fiscal officer. Brownhelm TownshipDan DePalma is running unopposed for trustee, and incumbent Fiscal Officer Debra Mastellone is also unopposed.Camden TownshipIncumbent Trustee James Woodrum and incumbent Fiscal Officer John Ciarrone are unopposed for reelection.Carlisle Township Kelsey Sizemore and Richard Willard Jr. are running for Carlisle Township fiscal officer.Incumbent trustee Jared Smith is running unopposed.Columbia TownshipIncumbent Mark Cunningham is running unopposed for trustee. Incumbent Columbia Township Fiscal Officer Mandy Andrews is running unopposed for reelection.Eaton Township Incumbent Eaton Township Trustee Matt Hignett is facing challengers Dee Schippel and Rick Vincent.Briana Davis is running unopposed for election for Eaton Township Fiscal Officer.Elyria Township Incumbent Rick Hutman is running unopposed for trustee. Stephanie DeWitt is running unopposed for fiscal officer.Grafton Township Jared Koenig, Daniel Martone and Tim Shevel are running for an open seat on the board. Incumbent Fiscal Officer Amy Richards is unopposed. Henrietta Township Incumbent trustee Howard Born is running unopposed, as is incumbent Fiscal Officer Joseph Siekeres. Huntington Township Incumbent Trustee Robert Holmes will face challenger Tyler Hanoshofsky. Incumbent Fiscal Officer Sheila Lanning is running unopposed. LaGrange Township Trustee Douglas Gardner did not file for reelection, leaving newcomer Roger Kuhl Jr. unopposed to replace him in November. Incumbent Fiscal Officer Kathy Poling will face challenger Kimberly Carter. New Russia Township Incumbent Trustee Andy Gulish will face challenger Michelle Tyner. Incumbent Fiscal Officer Lisa Akers is running unopposed. Penfield Township Incumbent Trustee Eric Flynn Jr. is running unopposed. Rachael Duling is running unopposed for fiscal officer. Pittsfield Township Two newcomers are running for Pittsfield Township trustee: Walter Brendel and William Forthofer. Incumbent Fiscal Officer Mandy Cecil is unopposed in the election. Rochester Township Incumbent Trustee Kathryn Frombaugh and incumbent Fiscal Officer Laura Brady are unopposed for reelection. Sheffield Township Incumbent Timothy Mihalcik has filed for reelection and will be challenged by DeWayne Neal. Laura Maltarich is the lone candidate for fiscal officer. Wellington Township Incumbent Trustee William Spreng is running unopposed for another four-year term, alongside incumbent Fiscal Officer Virginia Haynes. Lorain County Educational Service Center Governing Board Incumbents Judy Maldonado, of Lorain, and Deborah Melda, of Elyria, are seeking reelection to the governing board of the Educational Service Center. Amherst Board of Education Incumbent board members Rex Engle and Marc Zappa are both running unopposed for reelection. All board members serve four-year, nonpartisan terms.Avon Board of EducationIncumbent board members Dennis Kramer and Christine Libeg are running for reelection unopposed.Avon Lake Board of Education Incumbent board members Kendra Gardiner and Jim Stobe are running for reelection unopposed, as is Gail Soinski Opaskar.Clearview Board of EducationIncumbent Clearview board member Michael Post is seeking reelection to another four-year term. Current board member Michael Kokinda did not seek reelection and no one filed for his seat as of Wednesday's deadline. If someone does not file as a write-in by Aug. 28, a candidate will be appointed to the November ballot. Columbia Board of EducationIncumbents Stephen Coleman and Shawn Ondrejko are running for reelection unopposed. Elyria Board of EducationIncumbents Michael Gebhardt and Elaine Seguin will face challengers Aric Bowens and Brent Parker.Firelands Board of Education Incumbent board members Tom Myers and Michael O'Keefe will face a challenge from Myles Bremke. There are two open seats. Keystone Board of Education Five individuals filed for two seats on Keystone School Board: Mark Cadrette, Andrew Hoops, William Robson, Patricia Wakefield and incumbent Kimberly Sturgill.Lorain Board of Education Incumbent Lorain school board members Mark Ballard and Courtney Nazario will face challenger Charmaine Williams for two open seats. Midview Board of Education Incumbent Daniel Haight is seeking reelection to another four-year term, alongside newcomer James Onderko. Board member Tom Tomasheski did not file for reelection. North Ridgeville Board of Education Incumbent board member Frank Vacha Jr. is facing two challengers to his reelection bid in John Gassman Jr. and David Hanes.Oberlin Board of Education Incumbent board member Ken Stanley is unopposed for another four-year term. There is a vacant slot on the ballot unless someone files as a write-in by Aug. 28. If no one files, a candidate will be appointed to the November ballot. Sheffield/Sheffield Lake Board of Education Incumbent board members Pat Czech, Amy DeLuca and Sandra Jensen are running for reelection unopposed.Wellington Board of Education No one filed by the deadline to run for two open seats on the Wellington Board of Education, according to the board of elections. Black River Board of EducationThree people are running unopposed for three open seats on Black River School Board: Robin Blake, Michele Powers-Neeld and Charles Stiver. Mapleton Board of Education A list of candidates was not immediately available on the Ashland County Board of Elections website Wednesday evening.New London Board of Education Board members Abigail Fawcett and Tiffany Green filed for reelection. There is still a vacant slot, unless someone files as a write-in with the Huron County Board of Elections by Aug. 28. If no one files as a write-in, a candidate will be appointed to the ballot. Olmsted Falls Board of Education Three individuals filed for two seats on the Olmsted Falls School Board: Allison Hines, Bob Perez and incumbent Justin Funk. Strongsville Board of Education Five individuals filed for three seats on Strongsville board: Jeff Johansen Sr., Beverly Jones, Richard Micko and incumbents Michelle Bissell and Laura Wolfe-Housum. Vermilion Board of EducationMark Benson Jr., Christopher Hinds, Shelly Innes, Krystal Russell, Sarah Scarvelli and Ratiba Stillman are running for three open seats on the board. Innes, Russell and Stillman are incumbents. North Point Educational Service Center Erie District and Huron District Board member filings with the Erie County Board of Elections were not immediately available Wednesday evening.Tri-County Educational Service Center District 3 Filings in Wayne County were not immediately available Wednesday evening.ISSUES State Ohio constitutional amendment on reproductive rights. Township Carlisle Township Precinct No. 5, Sunday sales liquor option at the Carlisle Golf Club, 39709 Slife Road. Elyria Township Precinct No. 1, Sunday sales liquor option at Lake Beverage, 6621 Lake Ave. Grafton Township, 1.5-mill, five-year replacement levy with an increase for the repair of streets, highways and bridges. Grafton Township Precinct No. 1, Sunday sales liquor option at Chatty's Tavern, 15478 Avon Belden Road. LaGrange Township, 3.5-mill, five-year replacement levy for fire and EMS. Sheffield Township, 0.9-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire protection. Sheffield Township, 2.0-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses. School levies Amherst School District, 2.5-mill continuous replacement levy with an increase for general permanent improvements. Avon Lake City Schools, 7.6-mill, 37-year bond issue for new schools and improvements. Central Lorain County Joint Ambulance District, 2.06-mill, three-year renewal levy with an increase for current ambulance and EMS. Erie County General Health District, 0.3-mill, five-year renewal levy for health programs. North Ridgeville City Schools, 6.26-mill, 37-year bond issue for construction and renovation of schools. Vermilion School District, 0.68-mill, five-year renewal levy for school safety and security. Wellington School District, 3.68-mill, 10-year renewal levy for emergency requirements. Mapleton School District, additional 0.75 percent, five-year income tax for current expenses. Strongsville City Schools, 5.9-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses. Lorain County The "seven district" plan that would replace the three-member Lorain County Board of Commissioners with seven equal representative districts. An additional 0.5-mill, five-year levy for Lorain County 911. An additional 0.25-mill, five-year levy for the Lorain County Crime/Drug Lab and Lorain County Coroner's Office. A replacement 1.6-mill, 10-year levy for continuing operations for Lorain County Metro Parks. Municipal Amherst 3-A, Sunday sales liquor option, 5 Points Tavern Avon, 0.45-mill, five-year renewal levy for parks and recreation. Avon Lake charter amendment, mayoral compensation. Avon Ward 2-A, Sunday sales liquor option, Mezquite Mexican Kitchen and Bar. Avon Ward 2-B, Sunday sales liquor option, Dairy Mart. Elyria Ward 1-D, Sunday sales liquor option, Dirty Donkey Tavern. Elyria Ward 3-A, local option liquor sales, Aldi's, Chestnut Commons. Elyria Ward 3-A, Sunday sales liquor option, Aldi's, Chestnut Commons. Elyria Ward 3-A, local option liquor sales, Sheetz, Chestnut Commons. Elyria Ward 3-A, Sunday sales liquor option, Sheetz, Chestnut Commons. Elyria Ward 6-B, Sunday sales liquor option, Elyria Food Mart. Elyria Ward 6-B, Sunday sales liquor option, The Pub. Grafton Village wards 3/4, Sunday sales liquor option, Nuevo Mexico. Kipton, 4.0-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses. Lorain Ward 2-E, Sunday sales liquor option, Shipyard Brewing Co. Lorain Ward 2-E, Sunday sales liquor option, Erie Steak & Seafood Co. North Ridgeville Ward 4-E, Sunday sales liquor option, Ganesh Inc. Marathon. North Ridgeville Ward 4-F, Sunday sales liquor option, Between the Bun Bar and Grill. South Amherst, 1.5-mill, five-year renewal for the fire department.