Richland County Board of Elections certifies petitions for May 2 primary
There were no surprises at Friday's meeting of the Richland County Board of Elections.
Members met to review and certify petitions for the May 2 primary. They had questions about only two petitions, those for Mansfield mayoral candidate Sherry Vaught and Ontario Council President Eddie Gallo.
"He (Gallo) turned in a four-part petition. He has enough valid signatures, but on one part, he did not fill out his party or name," said Matt Finfgeld, director of the board of elections. "It's the same situation on Sherry Vaught."
Finfgeld said he met with the county prosecutor's office, which determined the omissions made by Gallo and Vaught were not "a fatal flaw."
The four-member board approved the petitions unanimously, along with the petitions from the other county candidates.
In addition, the board of elections approved a letter from Alomar Davenport to withdraw his petition. Davenport is the fourth ward representative for Mansfield City Council. The deadline for write-in candidates is 4 p.m. Feb. 21.
The board also approved three name variations for the May 2 ballot.
Gallo wants to be listed as "Eddie" and not "Edward." Reese wants to go by "Sherry Vaught" and not "Sherry Reese Vaught." Also, Jim Holsinger, a candidate for Mansfield mayor, wants to be listed as "Jim" and not "James."
Four mayoral candidates seeking Republican nomination
Holsinger is one of four Republicans running to replace Mayor Tim Theaker, who can seek reelection because of term limits. The other Republicans on the ballot for the primary election are Jodie Perry, COO for the Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development; Linn Steward, Mansfield's finance director; and Stephanie Zader, councilwoman-at-large for Mansfield.
Another contested primary involves Democrats Christopher Brown and Rollie Harper, who are vying to replace Mansfield Law Director John Spon, also serving his final term.
No Republicans filed to run for the seat.
Also, Republicans Mark Abrams and Kelly Blankenship are running for finance director. The winner will face Democrat Jon Van Harlingen in the fall.
Richland County voters also will consider a number of tax issues, including three countywide issues.
Early voting begins April 4. The deadline to register for the primary election is April 3. The BOE will be open until 9 p.m. that day.
Hours for early voting are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 4-7, 10-14 and 17-21.
Hours for the week of April 24-28 are to be determined since there will be no early voting the Monday before the election.
"Those hours are going to be reallocated. We have not received guidance yet," Finfgeld said.
Hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29 and 1 to 5 p.m. April 30.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is April 25.
Finfgeld presented proclamations from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose to outgoing board of election members Lydia Reid and J.C. Elgin.
Reid is stepping down after 11 years, while Elgin is running for Shelby Municipal Court judge.
"What a wonderful board you are," said Reid, the former longtime Mansfield mayor. "People don't know what it takes to run a board (of elections). I've learned a lot."
The board also welcomed new member Venita Shoulders, the first Black member of the board of elections.
mcaudill@gannett.com
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Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County Board of Elections meets to certify petitions
