The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Off-year election draws lots of interest

Ferguson attempts suicide after being found guilty on all 32 counts
12:48 a.m.
Neighbors still trying  to recover from fatal fire
11:26 p.m.
Churches want end to ‘shooting and killing’
10:56 p.m.
Gun turn-in will include some questions
10:54 p.m.
State jobless rate jumps to 10.5 percent
10:12 p.m.
> More headlines

By Nancy Bowman, Staff Writer Updated 11:54 AM Thursday, September 3, 2009

TROY — Three people want to be Piqua mayor, while four people want to represent the 3rd Ward on the Piqua City Commission.

Five people are seeking four seats on the ballot for Tipp City Council, along with only one incumbent. In neighboring Bethel Twp., five people filed petitions to run for township trustee, while across the county in Bradford, 10 people are running for four village council seats.

The fall election season is about to get under way in Miami County now that the Aug. 20 ballot filing deadline has passed. The Board of Elections was scheduled to meet Wednesday, Aug. 26, to certify candidates and issues for the ballot.

Elections Director Steve Quillen said races attracting a number of candidates — such as Bradford council and Bethel Twp. trustee — often indicate there’s an issue of contention at the time in the community.

“They often are issue-driven candidates. That’s a good thing, to see people run,” Quillen said.

This is what is called an off-year election, with races for city and village councils and commissions, boards of education and township trustee.

In Bethel Twp., where growth and plans for central utility services to some areas have been hot-button issues, two trustee seats drew five candidates, including incumbents Jerry Hirt and Beth van Haaren, former state Rep. Diana Fessler, Bethel school board member Kama Dick and Robert Hephner.

In Piqua, three city commission members — Lucy Fess, William Vogt and John J. Martin — want to be mayor. Current Mayor Tom Hudson of the 3rd Ward is not seeking re-election, but four people — Terry Wright, James H. Cruse Jr., Kevin Pryfogle and Joseph Wilson — want that seat.

In Tipp City, three incumbents — Vickie Blakey, Mayor Tim Evans and Bill Beagle — did not file for re-election. Council President Pat Hale is the only incumbent seeking one of four council seats. Don Ochs, a former mayor and council member, is back on the ballot along with Katelyn Black, Joseph Gibson and Bryan Budding.

Bradford council candidates include incumbents Gary Carder, Deborah Warner and William Favorite, along with Jeffrey Wirrig, Eli Brogan, John Lavey, Randell Nicks, Sandra Miller, Michael Warner and J.B. Fritts.

Among other races are those for trustees in Concord, Newberry and Newton townships, mayor of West Milton, Covington council and boards of education in Bradford, Miami East, Troy and Tipp City.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article