Trish Bennett, Editor
PICKAWAY COUNTY – Though every township in the county had one open seat on its board of township trustees, the majority of those races were uncontested and saw the incumbent trustees re-elected in Tuesday’s general election.
A handful of townships, though, saw opposition in their races, and a few townships and villages had voters deciding on local ballot issues.
In the village of New Holland, voters in Pickaway and Fayette counties approved a renewal levy for current operating expenses, 0.7 mill, 5 years, commencing in 2015 with a total of 116 votes for the levy and 71 against the levy between the two counties. Voters also approved a renewal levy for general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges, 0.7 mill, 5 years, commencing in 2015 with a total of 133 votes for the levy and 55 against the levy between the two counties.
The replacement and increase of the Pleasant-Darby Union Cemetery District including Pickaway and Madison county voters passed on Tuesday with a total of 1,037 votes for the levy and 666 against between the two counties. The levy is a replacement and increase of 0.5 mill of an existing levy and an increase of 0.5 mill to constitute a tax of 1 mill, maintaining and operating cemeteries, 5 years, commencing in 2015.
In Darby Township, three men campaigned for the open trustee seat, but incumbent Ned A. Musselman won re-election with a little more than half the votes cast. Musselman garnered 444 votes (50.45 percent) of the votes against Rick Graham with 260 votes (29.55 percent) and Clyde Ohnewehr with 176 votes (20 percent).
In Deercreek Township, a renewal levy for the township (including the village of Williamsport) for maintaining and operating cemeteries, 1 mill, 3 years, commencing in 2016, passed with 261 votes for the levy (65.58 percent) versus 137 votes (34.42 percent) against.
In Harrison Township, Bill Welch won the seat currently held by Paul Welsh Jr. with 56.06 percent of the vote (810 votes). His opponent, Jim Kuhlwein, earned 635 votes (43.94 percent).
In Monroe Township, incumbent Richard Phillips won his bid for re-election with 233 votes (58.99 percent) against opponent Jake Morrison with 162 votes (41.01 percent).
In Saltcreek Township, Jerry S. Harper won the seat currently held by Robert Noble with 445 votes (56.76 percent) against opponent Joyce A. Fox, who earned 339 votes (43.24 percent). Voters also passed a replacement levy for two existing levies at the rate of 0.7 mill and 0.3 mill, providing and maintaining fire protection, 1 mill, continuing period of time, commencing in 2015. The votes were 593 votes (70.43 percent) for the levy and 249 votes (29.57 percent) against.
In Scioto Township, three people ran for the seat currently held by Stacey Sark. John Maynard won the seat with 803 votes (46.34 percent), just a slight margin over Ronald Jahn with 791 votes (45.64 percent). Walter E. Kerschner came in third with 139 votes (8.02 percent).
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
