80 candidates, 14 issues on Warren County fall ballots

Waynesville Mayor Dave Stubbs was the last candidate in Warren County filing for a spot on ballots for the Nov. 3 election.

If his petitions are certified by the Warren County Board of Elections, Stubbs will join 80 candidates, along with 14 issues, on ballots for the fall election.

Waynesville and Franklin candidates had until 4 p.m., Thursday, to file, while the deadline passed in the rest of the county on Aug. 5.

Stubbs waited until Wednesday to file, uncertain about spending as much as 30 hours a month on village business.

“Do I want to do this for four more years? It takes a lot of time,” said Stubbs.

Like Springboro Mayor John Agenbroad and the candidates who filed to run for two open seats on the Springboro school board, Stubbs figures to be unopposed in the election, although write-in candidates have until Monday to file.

Also appearing alone on the ballot is Harveysburg Mayor Dick Verga, despite criminal charges that were reversed on appeal and efforts to end his long term at the head of this village's government.

But other local offices will be contested in Springboro, Clearcreek Twp., Lebanon and other communities around the county.

Three, including both incumbents - are running for two at-large seats on the city council in Springboro. In Lebanon, six - including three incumbents - are running for three council seats.

“Nobody wants to run a race,” said Linda Oda, fiscal officer in Clearcreek Twp., just south of the Warren-Montgomery county border.

However Oda said active elections were a part of the American political system.

“When you follow the way the system was set up, you tend to get better outcomes.”

Oda, who also holds the Warren County Recorder office, is to be opposed by Donna Lynch, who could not be reached for comment.

Also facing a re-election race is Clearcreek Twp. Trustee Jason Gabbard, who defeated four opponents four years ago.

“I think it’s a matter of people looking at the opportunity and deciding what they can accomplish,” Gabbard said.

This time, he faces former Trustee Cathy Anspach.

He expressed surprise Lisa Babb and Jamie Belanger figure to be elected without opposition to two seats on the Springboro school board that were the subject of a six-way race four years ago. Theirs are the only names to be listed on the Nov. 3 ballots in the Springboro district.

“I expected a few more names to pop up,” he said.

Anspach, who ran third in a race for two trustee seats two years ago, said she wanted to bring a “conservative” voice to the board.

“The only way to change things is get in there and speak my mind in public,” she said.

The board is scheduled to certify the final candidates on Friday, Aug. 28.

Ballots will include statewide issues on redistricting, anti-monopoly and marijuana legalization.

In Clearcreek Twp., voters will decide whether to begin offering residents the opportunity to purchase aggregated electric power.

Lebanon voters will find a proposed increase in the local income tax from 1 percent to 1.25 percent for five years.

In Wayne Township, voters will consider renewal of a 2.45 mill, five-year levy for fire services.

Hamilton Township voters will consider renewal of a 1 mill, five-year police levy.

In the Little Miami School district, voters will decide whether to renew a 13.86 mill, five year levy.

Also, local option elections will be held in precincts in Lebanon and Franklin, Hamilton, Salem and Washington townships.

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