Lorain County Republican Party highlights slate of candidates in May primary

SHEFFIELD TWP. — The Lorain County Republican Party introduced a number of candidates who are running for county and state positions this spring. Ahead of Wednesday's filing deadline for the May primary, candidates introduced themselves to voters via a livestream at the party's headquarters. Brad Lacko, of Amherst, seeks to represent the state's 53rd House District, which includes Amherst, Avon Lake, Lorain, Sheffield Lake, Sheffield and part of Sheffield Township. The seat is currently held by Joe Miller, D-Amherst, who is term-limited at the end of this year, and running for state Senate. It is Lacko's third run for the position. On Monday, standing in front of a white backdrop with the Lorain County Republican Party's logo and an American flag off to the side, Lacko was the first of the candidates gathered in the party office to speak to voters. The Amherst resident operates the remainder of his family's farm, serves on the Lorain County Farm Bureau board of trustees and previously served as an Amherst firefighter from 2003 to 2013. Lacko has no opponent in the Republican primary. He will face the winner of a primary between Democrats Dan Nutt, of Lorain, and Matt Lundy, of Avon Lake, in November. State Rep. Kellie Deeter, R-Norwalk, is running for another term in the statehouse to continue representing the 54th House District, which includes Huron and portions of Lorain counties. Deeter has focused on practical priorities during her first term in Columbus, she said, including health care accessibility and affordability, support for small businesses and property tax reform, she said. She has no opponent in the May primary will face Democrat Brenda Buchanan in the general election. Elyria School Board President Elaine Seguin hopes to win voters' support to become Lorain County auditor later this year. If elected in November, she would have to step down from the Board of Education. A lifelong Elyria Township resident, certified public accountant and owner and operator of Rita's Italian Ice, Seguin wants to bring further transparency and respect for taxpayer dollars to the county auditor's office. Seguin does not have a primary opponent. She will face incumbent Democrat Craig Snodgrass in the November election. State Rep. Gayle Manning, R-Avon, hopes to trade seats with her son, state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, as both are term-limited. Gayle Manning is running for the state Senate's 13th District, where she previously served from 2011 to 2018. Nathan Manning, also in attendance Monday, is running for the House District 52 seat currently held by Gayle Manning. Nathan Manning previously served in the Ohio House from 2015 to 2018 before joining the state Senate in 2019. Gayle Manning is a lifelong Lorain County resident and retired elementary school teacher. She does not have a primary challenger and will face Miller in November. Similarly, Nathan Manning does not have a primary challenger for the Ohio House seat, but will face the winner of a Democratic primary between Mike Baker and Graig Bansek in November. Ohio House of Representative terms are two years; state senators serve four-year terms. Both offices limit officials to serving eight consecutive years. Political newcomer Will Schlechter, of Henrietta Township, has thrown his hat in the ring for a Lorain County commissioner seat. He is a new member of the Firelands Board of Education. If elected, he would have to step down from that position. A farmer who previously served on the Lorain County Farm Bureau board of trustees, the county Soil and Water Conservation Board and a longtime 4-H volunteer, Schlechter wants to represent all of Lorain County, he said Monday. He is personally against the proposed "mega site" in New Russia Township, which would see a swath of land near the Lorain County airport rezoned to allow for an industrial park. While not his sole reason for running against incumbent Republican Jeff Riddell in the May primary, Schlechter said he had yet to find someone he knows in support of the proposal. The winner of Schlechter's primary race with Riddell will face the winner of a Democratic primary between Brian Baker and Carolyn White to hold the four-year term. Republican state Supreme Court candidate Jill Lanzinger, of Green, came in from Summit County to meet with county Republican officials. Lanzinger has been a judge in Ohio for the past decade and served on the Ninth District Court of Appeals for the past three years. If elected, Lanzinger plans to carry the ideal that "without accountability, there is no justice," she said, as well as being mindful of public safety, constitutional and personal liberties and the dignity of those in the courtroom. There are at least four Republicans competing in the statewide primary: former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O'Donnell, Fifth District Court of Appeals Judge Andrew King, Second District Court of Appeals Judge Ron Lewis, and Lanzinger. The top votegetter will face incumbent Democrat Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner to hold the six-year term. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.