Competitive races will be on March primary ballots in Coshocton County. What are they?

Note: This story has been updated since originally published to reflect Kristine Kempf's candidacy for county treasurer.

COSHOCTON − There will be two competitive races in the March 19 primary for Coshocton County, per the Coshocton County Board of Elections. The BOE held a special meeting Friday to confirm all candidates and levies. The deadline for partisan candidates to file was Dec. 20.

Three men are vying for the Republican nomination for Coshocton County commissioner and two are going for the Republican nomination for Coshocton County sheriff.

Coshocton County sheriff faces opposition in primary

Incumbent Jim Crawford is seeking a second term as sheriff against Chris Walters, chief of the West Lafayette Police Department.

Walters became chief in October 2021. The graduate of Ridgewood High School previously served with the WLPD from 1996 to 2001 and then was with the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office before taking the chief position.

Crawford was an administrative lieutenant for the sheriff’s office from 2001 until fall of 2019, when he left the department to pursue a bid for sheriff.

Three Republicans seek to oppose independent commissioner

Robert Bigrigg, Merritt Roberson and Charles Selders are all seeking the commissioner's seat held currently by independent Rick Conkle. Conkle has informed the Tribune that he plans to file and run as an independent for a second term. Independent candidates have until March 18 to file for the fall general election.

For commissioner, one files to run for a specific seat and Republican Dane Shryock is not being challenged for the seat he currently holds.

Bigrigg is a commercial lender at Park National Bank and was named Coshoctonian in 2022. Selders works for Kraft-Heinz, per his Facebook page, and is a trustee for Tuscarawas Township. According to his Facebook page, Roberson works for Laborers International Union of North America in Canton was previously with McWane Ductile from 2000 to 2014.

Other races

Democrat Kristine Kempf has filed to run for treasurer against Janette Donaker.

Jason Given is running for the unexpired term as judge of the Coshocton County Probate and Juvenile Court. The former Coshocton County prosecutor was selected in May to replace the retired Van Blanchard II. Attorney William Todd Drown has confirmed with the Tribune that he plans to file as an independent and run for the seat in the fall general election.

Running unopposed for re-election, barring the filing of independent candidates, are Commissioner Dane Shryock, Prosecutor Ben Hall, Clerk of Courts Camila Graham, Coroner Douglas Virostko and Engineer Fred Wachtel. All are Republicans. Republican Ashley Grassbaugh-Thomas has filed to run for the county recorder's office. Current Recorder Susan Turner didn't file for re-election.

There are also two levies set to appear on the primary election ballot. Coshocton County Emergency Medical Services is seeking a 1-mill five year property tax levy for general operations. Franklin Township is seeking a 2.5-mill five-year levy for fire protection that will replace two current levies for fire services.

Candidates for the Democratic Central Committee are Jinni Bowman for 3B in the City of Coshocton; Breanne Smith for Lafayette Township; Michelle Darner for White Eyes and Adams Townships; Chad Johnson for 2B; Theresa Miller for 3A; Theresa Hartle for Jefferson, Nellie, New Castle and Warsaw; Samuel Latham for 4A; Charles Willis for Bedford and Washington Townships; Robert Fetters for 1B; Donald Andrews for Franklin and Virginia Townships; Frank Mathews for West Lafayette; David Boyer for Oxford Township; and Craig Bickle for Perry and Pike Townships.

Candidates for Republican Central Committee are Todd Endsley for Keene and Millcreek Townships; Tim Ross for Franklin and Virginia Townships; Ronald Seitz for Jackson Township; Camila Graham for Perry and Pike Townships; Sherry Kirkpatrick for 4B in the City of Coshocton; Thomas Kobel for 4A; Robert Buxton for Jefferson, Nellie, New Castle and Warsaw; Steve Hall for Oxford Township; Kathy Hendricks for Lafayette Township; and MaryAnn Sherman for White Eyes and Adams Townships.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with close to 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Republican primary competitive for Coshocton sheriff and commissioner