Three county officeholders to retire at end of 2024; four file for state representative

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·2 min read
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NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ There will be several new faces in the Tuscarawas County Courthouse beginning in 2025 with the retirement of three longtime officeholders.

The three ‒ Commissioner Chris Abbuhl, Clerk of Courts Jeanne Stephen and Recorder Lori Smith ‒ did not file petitions to run in the March 19 primary.

Abbuhl was first elected in 2004. Stephen was appointed to the job in 2011 with the retired of former Clerk of Courts Rockne Clarke and first won election in 2012. Smith was first elected recorder in 2000.

Seeking another term: Sheriff Orvis Campbell to run for reelection as an independent in 2024

The deadline for partisan candidates to file was Dec. 20.

Two people have filed to run for the commissioner's post being vacated by Abbuhl. They are Mitch Pace, a Republican who serves on New Philadelphia City Council, and Steve Carlisle of Wainwright, a Democrat. Carlisle is a former county commissioner.

Commissioner Greg Ress, a Republican from New Philadelphia, is running for reelection in March. No one else has filed for the job.

Two people have filed to run for recorder to replace Smith. They are Lori Gardner of New Philadelphia, a Republican, and Shawn Clay, a Democrat from Dover.

Wendy Jones, a Democrat from New Philadelphia, has filed to run for clerk of courts. No one else filed.

Four file for state representative

In the 51st Ohio House District, which includes Tuscarawas County and southwestern Stark County, all four candidates for state representative live in Tuscarawas County. State Rep. Brett Hillyer, a Republican incumbent who lives in Mill Township near Uhrichsville, faces a primary challenge from Jodi Salvo of Sandy Township near Bolivar. Salvo is the director of Substance Abuse Prevention Services at OhioGuidestone.

The Democratic primary for the 51st District will have two candidates: Joe Rinehart of Lawrence Township near Bolivar and John Bazaar in Fairfield Township near Dover. Rinehart is a communications professor at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Bazaar is the president of Norse Tool and Workholding in Dover.

Incumbents seek reelection

Also seeking reelection in 2024 are Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Styer, a Republican from New Philadelphia; Treasurer Jeff Mamarella, a Democrat from Dover; and Coroner Dr. Jeff Cameron, a Democrat from Dover. Only the incumbents filed for these offices.

No one filed to run for sheriff, but Sheriff Orvis Campbell has announced that he will be running in 2024 as an independent. The deadline for independents to run in the November 2024 election isn't until next year.

The Tuscarawas County Board of Elections will meet Dec. 27 to certify the petitions of the candidates. They cannot run in the March primary unless their petitions are certified.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Three Tuscarawas County elected officials to retire at end of 2024