One school levy, a road levy and two liquor options are the only local issues Champaign County voters will see on March 15 primary ballots. The only race pits an incumbent county commissioner against a current city councilman.
The liquor options concern Vintage Drive Thru & Cafe, owned by Kim and Mike Fraley at 1549 S. U.S. Route 68 in Urbana. One option is for the sale of spirituous liquor, the other for the sale of wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor 11 a.m.-midnight Sundays. The options will be on Urbana North precinct ballots.
The drive-thru portion of the business remains open while the inside and outside are being renovated in anticipation of re-opening the restaurant, with bar, in the spring.
The school issue proposed by the Urbana school district is for a continuous 14.8-mill current operating expenses levy. (A preview of this issue was printed earlier this month in the Daily Citizen.)
West Liberty-Salem Local Schools will have a renewal levy on the March presidential primary ballot.The district’s 1 percent, three-year income tax levy renewal generates an estimated $1.3 million annually for the district. (A preview of this issue was printed earlier this month in the Daily Citizen.)
Salem Township trustees once again have a road levy on the ballot in hopes township residents (exclusive of the city of Urbana) vote “yes” this time. The levy is for 2.9 mills for five years. (A preview of this issue will be printed at a later date in the Daily Citizen.)
County Commissioner David E. Faulkner has competition from Urbana City Councilman Doug Hoffman for the Republican nomination for the commission seat. So far, the winner of this race has no opposition in the Nov. 8 general election. (A preview of this race will be printed at a later date in the Daily Citizen.)
Several other Republican incumbents have no competition in the primary, and so far none in the general election, for their county seats. These incumbents are Commissioner Steven R. Hess, Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Talebi, Clerk of Courts Penny S. Underwood, Sheriff Matthew R. Melvin, Recorder Glenda L. Bayman, Treasurer Robin K. Edwards, Engineer Stephen Earl McCall and Coroner Dr. Joshua F. Richards.
State Rep. Nino Vitale (R-Urbana) has no opposition in the primary. His 85th District includes Champaign, Logan and Shelby counties. So far, he has no opposition in the Nov. 8 general election.
John Adams of Sidney and Matt Huffman of Lima, both former Republican state representatives, are candidates for 12th District state senator. The district includes Champaign and Logan counties, as well as all or parts of Mercer, Darke, Allen, Auglaize and Shelby counties. The winner of this race thus far has no opposition in November.
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) has no competition for his Ohio 4th Congressional District seat in the March primary. He’ll face one of three Democrats in the Nov. 8 general election: Daniel Johnson of Plain City, Janet Garrett of Oberlin and Norbert G. Dennerll Jr. of Elyria. The district includes Champaign and Logan counties, as well as parts or all of Allen, Auglaize, Shelby, Union, Marion, Crawford, Sandusky, Seneca, Erie, Huron and Lorain counties.
Those wishing to run as Independents in partisan races in the Nov. 8 election must file by 4 p.m. March 14. Candidates for county offices and for state representative file with the Champaign County Board of Elections. Candidates for the state senate race file with the Allen County Board of Elections. Candidates for the U.S. representative race file with the Lorain County Board of Elections.
Polls on March 15 will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
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Election letters policy
The deadline for submitting letters about the upcoming election is Monday, Feb. 29 at 5 p.m. The word limit is 100. Submitting a letter does not guarantee it will be printed and blatant letter-writing campaigns will be curtailed. Letters may be emailed to [email protected] to have priority placement. Letters must include name, address and phone number to be considered.
