Courier Voter Guide 2008

Complete information on the candidates and issues that will appear on your ballot. The voter guide was published in print in The Courier on Oct. 24, 2008.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Sample Ballot: Ohio General Election Ballot
County Boards of Elections Directory: Find Your County
Other Information: Secretary of State Web Site

LOCAL ISSUES:

RiverPlace: Yes or no?
If the $90 million RiverPlace development becomes a reality, Findlay's flooding problems will increase, according to Brandman/Swale Repeal Committee members who have an initiative petition on the November ballot to halt it. The initiative, if approved, would repeal Findlay City Council's 2007 ordinance entering into a contract with Kentucky-based developer Brad Burgess to build RiverPlace. The initiative also would force council to get approval from citizens before any development happens on the property; and would prohibit any legislation that has to do with development at that site from being passed as an emergency measure. (READ MORE)

Precinct to vote on liquor issue
ARLINGTON — Voters who live in the Madison Township East precinct will decide the fate of a Sunday liquor option on Election Day. Jac and Dos, 635 N. Main St., Arlington, is seeking a liquor permit. (READ MORE)

Three Hancock polling places change for general election
Three polling locations in Hancock County have changed for the Nov. 4 general election. Findlay Precincts 3B and 3C will now vote at Bible Methodist Church in the Youth Family Center, 529 Stadium Drive. Findlay Precincts 4A and 4B will vote at the Disabled American Veterans building, 201 E. Front St. Madison Township's East and West precincts will vote at Good Hope Lutheran Church, 300 S. Main St., Arlington. Hancock County has 63 voting precincts. There are 29 polling places, since many precincts share polling locations. (READ MORE)

SCHOOL ISSUES:

Findlay Schools ask voters to replace levy
For Findlay Schools, the campaign to replace its 5.9-mill operating levy in November is all about paying the bills. Money from the levy, which generates about $4.7 million each year, is used for routine expenses like teacher salaries and benefits, for buying textbooks, equipment and supplies, and to pay for utilities, transportation and maintenance. Replacing the levy, as opposed to renewing it, would mean more money for the schools. (READ MORE)

Liberty-Benton seeking funds for school addition, renovation
The November election "will test the mettle" of the Liberty-Benton School District, says Superintendent Dennis Recker. District voters are being asked to approve a 5.9-mill tax package that would generate about $13.2 million for the local share of a $23.6 million project with the Ohio School Facilities Commission. The plan includes a 50,419-square-foot addition to the elementary/middle school building. (READ MORE)

Fostoria asks voters to help build new elementary school
FOSTORIA — Fostoria voters in November will decide a 3.1-mill, 28-year bond issue that would generate $9.5 million for construction of a new elementary school and renovations to the middle school. The total project cost is estimated at $22.2 million, with the state paying $13.7 million. (READ MORE)

North Baltimore tax package would fund new middle school/high school
North Baltimore voters will decide Nov. 4 whether they want to help pay for a $20 million project to build a new middle school/high school, and renovate the elementary school. A 25-year, quarter-percent income tax and a 28-year, 7.44-mill bond issue for the North Baltimore School District will be on the ballot. The bond issue and income tax will appear on the ballot as a single issue and, if passed, will generate the $9.9 million the district needs to pay its share of the project. (READ MORE)

RACES:

Miller, Routson competing for prosecutor post
For the first time in 24 years, Hancock County voters will have a choice when they cast a ballot for county prosecutor. Incumbent Mark C. Miller, who has been with the prosecutor's office since 1994 and in the top law enforcement post the past two years, is being challenged by Jeffrey L. Routson, a former police officer now working as an assistant prosecutor in Allen County. (READ MORE)
Prosecutor Candidate Biographies

Two compete for state school board seat
Northwest Ohio will be electing a new representative to the state school board in November. Incumbent board member Lou Ann Harrold, of Ada, who has represented District 1 for the past four years, is not seeking re-election. Vying for the open board seat are Ann E. Jacobs, a Lima attorney, and Tracey R. Smith, a teacher from Van Wert. (READ MORE)

Steelworker challenges Jordan for House seat
Democrat Mike Carroll and Republican incumbent Jim Jordan are vying for Ohio's 4th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The two candidates offer voters a stark choice on economic, energy, health care and defense policies. (READ MORE)

Business owner battles Latta in 5th District
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, the 5th District's representative since late 2007, is being challenged by a small business owner from Norwalk who says he is fed up with Washington "and decided to do something about it." Democrat George Mays has no government experience, but says he is "reasonable and responsible." He was a pastor for 12 years before starting a disc jockey business in 1995. Mays faces an opponent with more than 17 years of experience in public offices, from Wood County government to the U.S. House of Representatives. (READ MORE)

Fundraising efforts fierce in Ohio's congressional races
COLUMBUS (AP) — Democrats are outraising Republicans in two open Ohio congressional districts and against a targeted incumbent, fueling the party's hopes that it can continue the victory wave it began in 2006. Republicans hold an 11-7 edge in the Ohio delegation, a majority that Democrats aspire to reverse on Nov. 4. (READ MORE)

Democrats hope to regain control of Ohio House
COLUMBUS (AP) — Buried beneath the intense coverage of Democrats trying to regain the White House is a stiff challenge from the party to take over the Ohio House for the first time in 14 years. Just four seats stand between the Democrats and control of the state House of Representatives, where the Republicans hold a 53-46 margin. Continued GOP supremacy in the Senate — where the party holds a 21-12 margin — is all but assured. Divided government in Ohio, which has a Democratic governor, appears to be a safe bet at least until 2010. (READ MORE)

Former coach, player competing for Ohio House seat
Voters in Ohio's 76th House District will choose in November between an incumbent who is a former high school football coach, and a challenger who is one of his former players. Republican State Rep. Cliff Hite is now wrapping up his two-year freshman term in the Ohio House. He is being opposed by write-in candidate Patrick Matheny. Both are from Findlay. (READ MORE)

Voters to decide Ohio House races, 1 state Senate contest
Voters in Hancock and surrounding counties will decide four Ohio House of Representatives races and one state Senate race in the November general election. There are Ohio House races in the 6th, 76th, 81st and 82nd districts, and in the 2nd Senate District. Two House candidates are unopposed: Republicans Matt Huffman in the 4th House District, which covers Allen County, and Lynn R. Wachtmann in the 75th House District, which includes Henry, Putnam, Paulding and Van Wert counties, and part of Defiance County. (READ MORE)

AREA COUNTIES:

11 Hancock County candidates unopposed in November election
Eleven candidates are unopposed for Hancock County positions on Nov. 4, and six of them faced no competition in the primary either. Some of the positions have been uncontested since the 1980s, including clerk of courts, engineer and recorder. (READ MORE)

Four county races, tax requests on Seneca ballot
TIFFIN — Races for two county commissioner seats, county treasurer and prosecutor will be decided when Seneca County residents vote Nov. 4. Several tax issues also are on the ballot. (READ MORE)

Wood County to pick winners in six races
Wood County voters have six county races to decide in the November general election. Two of the three county commissioners, James Carter and Alvin Perkins, are up for election this year and both have opponents. Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn and county Engineer Raymond Huber both have competition, too. Voters also will choose a new common pleas court clerk, as Rebecca Bhaer is not running again, and select a new county recorder to replace Sue Kinder. (READ MORE)

Races, levies on Henry County ballot
NAPOLEON — A pair of county commissioner contests highlight the fall ballot in Henry County. Also, two levies are being requested to finance programs for the developmentally disabled and for senior citizens. (READ MORE)

Three Putnam County races, health distric tax on ballot
Putnam County voters will pick the winners of three races in the November election, for a commissioner seat, clerk of courts and treasurer. There is one countywide tax on the ballot. Putnam County General Health District is asking voters to renew a .25-mill, 10-year levy for maintaining and operating public health programs. The levy generates about $115,000 a year. (READ MORE)

Fate of zoning plan, health levy before Wyandot County's voters
UPPER SANDUSKY — Wyandot County voters will decide two commissioner races on Nov. 4. Also, a zoning plan for the county's unincorporated areas, approved by the commissioners, will be on the ballot. In other ballot issues, the Wyandot County Board of Health is seeking a 0.9-mill, five-year replacement levy for general operations. And Carey School District is asking voters to renew a 1 percent, five-year income tax. (READ MORE)

Hardin voters to decide four county races, tax issue
KENTON — Hardin County voters will decide two commissioner races on Election Day, as well as competitions for county treasurer and clerk of courts. The lone countywide tax issue is a 4-mill replacement levy sought by the Hardin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. (READ MORE)

Lawmen competing for Allen sheriff's job
LIMA — There will be a new sheriff in Allen County come January. Two officers with the Allen County Sheriff's Office have stepped down so they can run for office. The two independent candidates want to replace Sheriff Dan Beck, who is not seeking re-election. Sam Crish, 44, recently stepped down from the sheriff's office where he had been a major since 1991. He has spent 23 years with the sheriff's office, serving as lieutenant, sergeant and deputy. Steve Hoverman, 51, was a captain with the sheriff's office, having served the department since 1978 as a lieutenant and deputy. (READ MORE)

STATE:

Voters facing five state issues
COLUMBUS (AP) — Depending on who's doing the talking — or whose ads are currently on your television — three state ballot issues would either create jobs or leave even more Ohioans without work. Voters on Nov. 4 will decide whether to allow casino gambling and whether the state should finance conservation of natural open spaces and the environmental revitalization of other lands. A state issue to decide the fate of Ohio's new payday lending law was still pending in early October. (READ MORE)
State Issues at a Glance

Three in attorney general race forced by scandal
COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohioans have had scant time to get to know the candidates in an unexpected attorney general race forced by a scandal. The fact that neither party had picked a candidate five months before the Nov. 4 election has made for a mad dash for the three men who ultimately joined the race: Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray, a Democrat; former U.S. Attorney Mike Crites, a Republican; and independent Robert Owens. The scramble was set off by the sudden resignation in May of Democrat Marc Dann. He reluctantly retreated after being mired in a scandal that included sexual harassment allegations against top aides and admitting to an affair with an employee. He was supposed to have served until 2010. (READ MORE)

Two northeast Ohio judges try to win seats on Supreme Court
COLUMBUS (AP) — Two northeast Ohio judges are trying to break the all-Republican hold on the Ohio Supreme Court, in races drawing the attention of independent groups. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Joseph Russo is challenging Justice Maureen O'Connor, a former lieutenant governor to Bob Taft.
Peter Sikora, a Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court judge who was a Supreme Court candidate in 1996 and 2006, faces Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, who is seeking her third six-year term. The seven-member court has been Republican since 2006, the first time since 1921 that the GOP has dominated the high court. (READ MORE)

Ohio Supreme Court candidates' backgrounds
A look at the candidates for Ohio Supreme Court. (READ MORE)

NATIONAL:

14 candidates running for president; some names familiar, others aren't
Undecided voters looking for options when it comes to picking the new president Nov. 4 will have more than Obama and McCain from whom to choose. A total of eight presidential candidates will be listed on the ballot in Hancock County, and six other candidates can be written in. Besides Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin, voters will see candidates representing the Constitution, Green, Libertarian and Socialist parties. There are also eight independent candidates running for president, with two appearing on the ballot. (READ MORE)

Electoral College actually decides presidential race
While network television will likely project the winner of the presidential election early Nov. 5, if not sooner, the outcome won't become “official” until next year. Between Election Day and Jan. 6, a 218-year-old process known as the Electoral College will unfold. The Electoral College actually picks the next president. (READ MORE)

Comments

[Mulberry Alexa]

I'd be interested in hearing. The TOS seems rather clear that it is not unless expressly approved by Amazon. I guess if the library got it in writing then they would be ok.

[jlk]

obama is the anti-christ and this country has voted him into office. may GOD help us all for this country is now doomed. We will no longer have freedom to chose nor freedom of religion, all we will have is his muslim beliefs.