Ohio primary election has several races

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Today is Election Day in Ohio, as well as several other states, and local voters who have not already cast their ballots have a chance to help decide the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations, as well as two Van Wert County races, an appellate judge race, and the Republican nomination for state representative.

The chances of stopping Donald Trump’s presidential aspirations are getting fewer, with Ohio Governor John Kasich hoping to secure the GOP presidential nomination in his own state, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio still holding out hope of doing the same in his home state of Florida today.

A total of 11 Republican presidential candidates remain on the ballot in Ohio, although many, including Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina, have since dropped out of the race. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are joined by Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente on the presidential ballot.

On the local front, County Prosecutor Charles F. Kennedy III and Assistant Prosecutor Eva Yarger are battling for the Republican nomination for prosecutor, while County Commissioner Todd Wolfrum and challenger Staci Kaufman, superintendent at Vantage Career Center, are both seeking the Republican nomination for county commissioner.

Van Wert County voters will also play a part in the Republican nominations for state representative for the 82nd Ohio House District between incumbent Representative Tony Burkley and challenger Craig Riedel of Defiance, as well as decide who gets the Republican nod for contested races for Ohio Supreme Court justice and for judge of the Ohio Third District Court of Appeals, based in Lima.

Candidates for the Supreme Court include Colleen Mary O’Toole and Pat Fischer, while appellate judge candidates are William R. Zimmerman, Amy Ikerd, and Richard Henry Palau.

Voters will also decide the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator between incumbent Rob Portman and Don Elijah Eckhart, while Democratic voters will choose who challenges the winner in November. Candidates include former governor Ted Strickland, Kelli Prather, and P.G. Sittenfeld.

The only other contested race locally is one for Republican State Central Committeewoman between Cheryl Buckland and Cheryl Blakely.