Licking County Elections Board approves 9 write-in candidates for Nov. 7 general election
NEWARK − The Licking County Board of Elections added nine candidates to the Nov. 7 general election, but they won't appear on any ballot.
The board approved the write-in candidates for offices around the county. Voters will be able to write in candidates in the villages of Alexandria, Buckeye Lake and Utica, Union Township and the Licking Valley and Lakewood school districts.
Kristin Hurst, who sought candidacy for Johnstown City Council, was rejected as a write-in candidate because state law does not allow anyone rejected for the ballot to be a write-in candidate. Hurst left the signature count space blank on her petitions and was therefore rejected last month as a candidate for the ballot.
Licking County elections: Candidates file for city, village, township, school board jobs all over Licking County
So, the Johnstown City Council race will include Donny Barnard, Jeffrey Barr, Kyle Cook and Tiffany Hollis for three full-term council seats and Wesley Kobel, Robert Orsini and Dave Selan for three unexpired terms ending Dec. 31, 2025.
In two races — Buckeye Lake Village Council and Licking Valley School Board — the additional write-ins will mean there are more candidates than elected offices.
The Buckeye Lake Village Council race increased from two candidates to five for the four open seats. Linda Goodman, Adam Miller and Robert Scherman are write-ins; Don Cable and John Lemmon will appear on the ballot.
The Licking Valley School Board race for two positions added write-in candidate Gary Ullom to the three names on the ballot: Paul Durbin, Drake McArtor and Jo Lynn Torbert.
In the other races affected by the additional write-in candidates, all the write-ins can be elected without knocking anyone out of the race.
Licking County issues on Nov. 7 ballot: Alexandria, St. Albans Township merger commission creation
The Lakewood School Board had no filings for an unexpired term, but Kelly Rayburn is a write-in candidate for the position. The race for two full-term seats on the board comprises Brandon Salyer and Jeremiah Weekly. Brittany Misner withdrew from the race to avoid conflicts with her new job as Hebron economic development director.
In Alexandria, nobody filed paperwork to get onto the ballot for two council seats, but Carianne Meng and Kelly Reed will be write-in candidates.
The Utica Village Council also will have no one listed on the ballot, but John Hartfield will be a write-in candidate for one of the positions.
The Union Township fiscal officer position attracted no candidates to appear on the ballot, but Karen Nethers will be a write-in.
The three previously approved write-in candidates for the general election are Daniel Crawford for Newark mayor, Jim Roberts for Heath City Council and Gregory Smith for Licking Township trustee.
All write-in candidates must live in the area which they would represent and fill out all the appropriate forms. They are not required to collect signatures from registered voters as the candidates do to appear on the ballot.
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Licking County write-in candidates for the Nov. 7 general election
Following are the updated races affected by the nine additional write-ins approved Tuesday. In parenthesis is the number of candidates to be elected.
Alexandria: Council (2). No names on ballot. Write-ins: Carianne Meng, Kelly Reed.
Buckeye Lake: Council (4): Don Cable, John Lemmon on ballot. Write-ins: Linda Goodman, Adam Miller, Robert Scherman
Utica: Council (2) No names on ballot. Write-in: John Hartfield
Union Township: Fiscal officer (1): No names on ballot. Write-in: Karen Nethers.
Lakewood School Board: Full term (2): Brittany Misner, Brandon Salyer, Jeremiah Weekly. Unexpired term (1): No names on ballot. Write-in: Kelly Rayburn
Licking Valley School Board (2): Paul Durbin, Drake McArtor, Jo Lynn Torbert. Write-in: Gary Ullom.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County approves 9 write-in candidates for Nov. 7 election
