Guess what, voters? There’s actually an election this Tuesday.
That’s right, there’s a statewide election that will decide the fate of three ballot proposals — on legislative redistricting, constitutional monopolies and marijuana legalization — as well as a host of local candidate contests and issues.
It’s been easy for voters to miss the 2015 contest with so much rhetoric already swirling around the 2016 presidential campaign. Even some 2016 congressional candidates are popping up in ads and on doorsteps like premature Christmas merchandise before Thanksgiving.
Here are 10 things to know heading into Tuesday’s election:
JUSTIFIED CONFUSION
A woman walked into a Columbus early voting center recently asking to vote for Hillary Clinton. The voter was a year early. But such confusion is understandable, and it may be widespread.
Clinton and her Democratic and Republican rivals are campaigning daily, though the election for president is more than 12 months away — on Nov. 8, 2016. Republicans vying to win the presidential nomination have already held three televised debates. Campaigns are going strong in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early primary states. Plus, Ohio Gov. John Kasich is one of the candidates.
Ohio’s presidential primary is March 15.
MARIJUANA MEDIA MIGHT
Ohio is one of only a handful of states that allow ballot issues in off years, ostensibly because so few voters take part.
ResponsibleOhio, the marijuana legalization campaign behind Issue 3, targeted Ohio’s off-year election cycle in part because it’s cheaper. The deep-pocketed campaign has spent $12 million so far, effectively drowning out many of the year’s other messages. The campaign has involved a bud-shaped superhero sent to campuses, TV personality Montel Williams and high-profile surrogates including basketball great Oscar Robertson, “The Big O,” and pop idol Nick Lachey.
Opponents are struggling to keep pace. Bolstered by the Issue 2 proposal to ban constitutional monopolies, they’re running ads warning of marijuana-laced Gummi Bears available to children if cannabis is legalized.
Backers of Issue 1, a bipartisan restricting proposal, have turned to creativity to draw attention. They hosted a competition seeking creative comics to promote their effort.
DUELING FOR LIMA LEADERSHIP
Lima has seen a heated fight for the right to lead City Council. Incumbent John Nixon faces a challenge from Jesse Lowe II, the 3rd Ward councilman.
Lowe attacked perceived chuminess with the Lima city administration and Lima Mayor David Berger throughout his campaign. Nixon questioned if Lowe had the organizational and leadership skills to handle the position.
There’s also a fight for Lima’s 4th Ward seat. Tom Tebben, who narrowly defeated Rebecca Kreher four years ago, faces a challenge from her once again.
CONTESTED MAYORAL RACES
In several area communities, sitting mayors face competition.
In Beaverdam, incumbent mayor Roberta Beemer faces a challenge from Greg Smith.
In Bluffton, Mayor Judy Augsburger faces a challenge from Jerry Cupples and David Steiner. While she’s an incumbent, voters haven’t seen her name on the ballot before. She’d only been on the council five months when she was sworn in, stepping in for Dennis Gallant, who had assumed the job for about a year when Eric Fulcomer resigned to follow a job out of state.
In Continental, three people are running for mayor, including Mark McCullough, incumbent Terry Dockery Sr. and Matt Miller.
In Cridersville, Mayor Lorali Myers decided not to seek re-election after two four-year terms. Voters there will decide between council President Rick Walls and councilman and former mayor, Robert Conner.
In Elida, Kim Hardy faces a challenge from Councilman Claude Paxton. Hardy took over when former Mayor Ron Klopfenstein died in December 2013.
In Pandora, Mayor John Schlumbohm faces a challenge from Rex Rizor.
In Wapakoneta, Mayor Rodney Metz, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican Thomas Stinebaugh.
In Waynesfield, Patricia Reed challenged the incumbent, Michael Ridenour, to lead the Auglaize County village. The village also has an issue on the ballot to eliminate the village administrator position and create a board of public affairs.
SCHOOL BOARD FIGHTS
Some school boards have heated elections in the region, too.
In the Ottawa-Glandorf schools, six candidates are looking for three spots, including incumbents Anna Recker and Kim Schroeder. The other candidates include Lucy Cramer, Beth Hempfling, Glenn Karhoff and Brent Schroeder.
Shawnee schools only has open position with one name on the ballot, Mike Carpenter, but there are two write-in possibilities, Bob Loescher and David Ward.
Perry schools has three positions open and five candidates, Ryan Lauck, Stephanie Neal, Marc Pescosolido, William Shively and write-in candidate Bryon Cox.
Columbus Grove schools has three positions open and four people running, Brad Brubaker, Jerry Bunn, Kenneth Kruse and Brent Stechschulte.
Several renewal levies are also on the ballot for schools, including Columbus Grove schools (1.5 mills), Ottawa-Glandorf schools (2.1 mills), Perry schools (4.9 mills), Pandora-Gilboa schools (1 percent income tax) and Vantage Career Center (0.7 mill renewal).
ASKING FOR NEW MONEY
Voters still have some say on how their money is spent, and some organizations are asking for a bigger share.
In Allen County, Allen County Children Services asked for a 0.5 mill increase of its existing levy, up to 1 mill. Auglaize Township asked for a 1 mill additional levy for current expenses, and Marion Township requested a 0.75 mill additional levy for current expenses.
In Auglaize County, New Bremen requested an additional 2 mills for ambulance and EMS services.
In Putnam County, Jackson Township requested 1 mill of additional levy for current expenses. Blanchard Township asked for a replacement levy of 1 mill for five years for fire, and Greensburg Township asked for a 0.7 mill replacement levy for roads. Palmer Township seeks a 2 mill replacement levy for roads. Van Buren Township requested a 1.25 mill replacement levy for current expenses. Kalida seeks 1.75 mills for a continuing period for police protection.
ASKING FOR RENEWALS
Allen County groups asking for renewal levies include the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (0.5 mills), Allen County Children Services (0.5 mills), Cairo (4 mills), Lafayette (7 mills), Monroe Township (1 mill), Perry Township (4.4 mills) and Shawnee Township (4.9 mills).
Renewal levies in Auglaize County include Auglaize Council on Aging (1 mill), Auglaize County (0.5 percent sales tax), Cridersville (2 mills for current expenses, 2 mills for fire and EMS), Goshen Township (0.6 mills), New Knoxville (2 mills) and Wapakoneta (1 mill),
Renewal levies in Putnam County include Palmer Township (1 mill), Perry Township (2 mills), Pleasant Township (0.45 mills),
BATTLEGROUND BARRAGE
Because Ohio is a battleground state, the early 2016 buzz is even louder than in many other states — exacerbating the invisibility of the 2015 campaign. One of the GOP presidential debates was even held in Cleveland.
Even in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, which won’t be decided until next fall, national groups are already pouring money into Ohio ads for and against Republican incumbent Rob Portman and would-be Democratic rival Ted Strickland, a former Ohio governor. Underwriters have included a group tied to the Karl Rove-affiliated American Crossroads organization and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
In anticipation of a tight race, Portman even started going door-to-door this month.
ANTICIPATED LOW TURNOUT
Ohio’s secretary of state has not released an official 2015 turnout estimate, but early voting hints at extremely low turnout.
About 223,000 absentee ballot applications were pulled this year and, as of 10 days before the election, only 61,217 had been returned. That’s well below past years. In 2013, 332,543 people cast absentee ballots. In 2011, when the repeal of Senate Bill 5 limits on collective bargaining was on the ballot, 680,656 people cast absentee ballots.
IT’S AN OFF-YEAR ELECTION
The American Policy Roundtable is a conservative policy group with a commitment to boosting election participation.
The group is so convinced that the presidential race is drowning out the 2015 election that they’ve bought an online ad. After a series of photos of the presidential contenders, it delivers a simple message: “Before we get to 2016, there is an election Nov. 3rd, 2015. Right?”
The group has come out against all three 2015 ballot initiatives, in part because it’s become easier for the governor and Legislature to change constitutional provisions and harder for outside groups to sue over such changes. They say odd-year constitutional amendments are the worst because so few people vote on them.
http://limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_electionlogo1.jpg
Maps of the borders of Ohio legislative districts are displayed on a table during a Cleveland hearing in 2011 of the Ohio Apportionment Board, which is in charge of redrawing the state’s legislative lines every decade. Ohio voters will decide whether to revamp the long-criticized process in the “off-off year” statewide election scheduled Tuesday. The election has been overshadowed by higher profile 2016 races but will decide the fate of three ballot proposals on redistricting, constitutional monopolies and marijuana legalization, as well as a number of local contests and issues.
http://limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_106784503-7a3e6f34b770498fa0ad9bb7588ef6e4.jpg
Maps of the borders of Ohio legislative districts are displayed on a table during a Cleveland hearing in 2011 of the Ohio Apportionment Board, which is in charge of redrawing the state’s legislative lines every decade. Ohio voters will decide whether to revamp the long-criticized process in the “off-off year” statewide election scheduled Tuesday. The election has been overshadowed by higher profile 2016 races but will decide the fate of three ballot proposals on redistricting, constitutional monopolies and marijuana legalization, as well as a number of local contests and issues.
AP Photo
2016 presidential race overshadows state issues, local elections
By Staff and Wire Reports
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