“We’re excited,” said Barry. “The volunteers and our team have worked hard over the last four months to get us in a position where we would be successful tonight.”
Barry collected 41 percent of the vote. Leitzell, a former Dayton mayor, received about 36 percent of the vote. The two were in a three-way primary with Bob Matthews, who finished with 23 percent.
Rice stayed steady with about 90 percent of the votes all night against Don Shaffer, according to the count.
“I’m pretty happy with the results,” Rice said from an election party Tuesday night. “I feel like we’re off to a great start. I’m ready for the next six months.”
RELATED: 3 on GOP primary ballot for open Montgomery County Commission seat
Leitzell and Matthews, a former Miami Twp. trustee, both ran for the county seat before.
The three Republicans and two Democrats appeared on Tuesday’s ballot to fill the seat being vacated by Dan Foley, a Democrat, who is running for the Statehouse.
Rice is a Kettering resident and Montgomery County’s treasurer for 11 years. Shaffer is a former Clayton City council member and practicing chiropractor who now lives in Brookville.
RELATED: 2 Democrats on Montgomery County Commission primary ballot
Barry and Rice will face each other in November to see who will join the board with current county commissioners, Judy Dodge and Debbie Lieberman. The commission has not had a Republican member in more than a dozen years.
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