Melissa Bell wins county commissioner Republican primary
ZANESVILLE — Melissa Bell has won the Republican primary for Muskingum County commissioner in a close race, according to unofficial election results released Tuesday night.
Melissa Bell received 50.78% of the votes cast in the Republican primary, beating her opponent Anthony Adornetto by a thin margin. It was the only contested race on the ballot.
Related: Q&A with Republican primary candidates for Muskingum County commissioner
In all, 8,432 people voted in the race. Election night results show Bell won by 123 votes.
"I’m very excited," she said. "It was a great race, and I worked very hard to earn the support of Muskingum County voters. I’m excited about the opportunity to serve, and look forward to general election in November."
Some absentee ballots will still be counted in the coming days.
Bell is the manager at Bell Farms Ag in Falls Township. She has said her skills overseeing finances there have prepared her for a role as commissioner, and she wants to give a voice to farmers by serving on the board.
Her opponent Anthony Adornetto said he was disappointed that more voters didn't turn out.
"It was pretty darn close, and I wish the turnout would’ve been higher," Adornetto said.
Bell will now face John Furek in November general election. Furek ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket.
Levy results
Two villages and one township had levies on the primary ballot.
Licking Township had two fire levy renewals on the ballot, both one-mill for five years. Both passed with approximately two-thirds of the vote.
Dresden had an additional fire levy on the ballot — four-mills for five years. It passed with nearly 57% of voters voting for the tax levy.
South Zanesville's additional police levy was the only one to fail, with nearly 55% voting against it. It missed the mark by 19 votes, according to unofficial election results.
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This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Bell wins Republican primary for Muskingum County commissioner
