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Candidates
Issues
Licking County voters will be asked to consider renewing a 1-mill property tax levy for a period of 10 years for the operation of community addiction and mental health services, and Newark voters will be asked to consider a half-percent increase in the city’s income tax for general operation of the city, assuming the Licking County Board of Elections certifies these and other issues for the Nov. 4 ballot.
The elections board will meet on Aug. 18 to consider all of the petitions for issues and candidates and determine which will be certified for the ballot.
Among the races for public office, Heath Mayor Mark Johns faces a challenge from Kelly Spires, and there is a 10-way race for two seats on the Etna Township board of trustees — one of which is incumbent Mark Evans, who has been a controversial figure on the township board.
In other highlights, Alexandria and St. Albans Towship residents will be asked to consider a merger of the two entities, which, if approved, would create a village of about 2,400 residents. The merger was proposed as a way to better manage growth and development moving east from New Albany and other parts of western Licking County.
Here is the list of candidates who have filed petitions to run in contested races in Licking County in the Nov. 4 General Election. Below, you will find the list of requested issues. (The filing deadline was 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 6. This is not a final, official list until the board of elections certifies the ballot on Aug. 18, and it is possible that some candidates or issues on this list will not make the ballot for various reasons, most commonly because of flaws in their election petitions.)
Candidates:
COUNTY (Addresses represent mailing addresses.)
Licking County Municipal Court Judge – (vote for not more than 1 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Michael R. DalSanto, Newark
Matthew George, Newark
Licking County Municipal Court Clerk – (vote for not more than 1 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Carrie Masterson, Newark
Rick Williams, Hebron
CITIES
Heath Mayor – (vote for not more than 1, full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Mark D. Johns (incumbent)
Kelly Spires
Johnstown City Council – (vote for not more than 4 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Kyle Cook
Ryan Green
Nicholas James Hubbell
Matthew D. Huggins
Wesley Kobel
Nicole Shook
Newark City Council, Ward 2 – (vote for not more than 1 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Beth Bline (R)
Daniel Crawford (D)
Newark City Council, Ward 3 – (vote for not more than 1 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Marci Fones (D)
Molly Ingold (R)
Newark City Council, Ward 4 – (vote for not more than 1 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Mark Labutis (R)
William Mooney (D)
Newark City Council, Ward 7 – (vote for not more than 1 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Travis Bralley (R)
Michelle Newman (D)
Pataskala City Council – (vote for not more than 3 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Jude Hampshire
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
Reynoldsburg City Auditor – (overlap from Franklin County, vote for not more than 1 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Stephen Cicak (R)
Shanette Strickland (D)
Reynoldsburg City Council At-Large seat – (Overlap from Franklin County, vote for not more than 3 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Angela Abram (D)
Stacie Allen Baker (D)
Barth R. Cotner (R)
Mildred Johnson (D)
Kamal Subedi (REP)
VILLAGES
Alexandria Village Council – (vote for not more than 4 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
William Lower
Mitchel Peters
Kenneth L. Simpson, II
Spencer Geise
Alexandria Mayor – (For the new Village of Alexandria if the proposed merger of the village and St. Albans Township passes in this election; vote for not more than 1 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Sean Barnes
Alexandria Village Council – (For the new Village of Alexandria if the proposed merger of the village and St. Albans Township passes in this election; vote for not more than 6 – full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Jeff Baer
Ann T. Lodder
Carianne Meng
Michael Miller
Dean C. Schiller
No Candidate Filed
Buckeye Lake Village Council – (overlap to Fairfield County, vote for not more than 3 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Deborah Julian
Michelle McCormick
Kellie Lee Green
Granville Village Council – (vote for not more than 3 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Melissa K. Hartfield
Kim Keethler Ball
Diane Marshall
Matt McGowan
Alex Morrow
Gratiot Village Council – (Overlap to Muskingum County, vote for not more than 4 – full term commencing 01/01/2026
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
Hanover Village Council – (vote for not more than 4 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Steven D. Cost, Jr.
Brett Wright
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
Hartford Village Council – (vote for not more than 4 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Daniel Cretcher
Elizabeth M. Palmer
Christopher Zehnder
No Candidate Filed
Hebron Village Council – (vote for not more than 4 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Jerry Carpenter
Franklin Joseph Giovannelli
Kristin Hoskinson
Thomas Marietta
Stacy Z. Stoner
Patrick Taylor, II
Kirkersville Village Council – (vote for not more than 4 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Darren M. Coe
Mark Alan Davis
James D. Kincaid
No Candidate Filed
Village of Kirkersville Board of Public Affairs – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
St. Louisville Village Council – (vote for not more than 4 – full term commencing 01/01/2026
Janet Wilkin
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
St. Louisville Board of Public Affairs – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
Utica Village Council – (Overlap to Knox County, vote for not more than 4 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Danielle Leila Carter
Connie Long
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
TOWNSHIPS (Addresses represent mailing addresses)
Bennington Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Lee R. Hatfield, Centerburg
Cindy Powell, Johnstown
Bowling Green Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Benjamin Hupp, Thornville
Daniel Van Buren, Glenford
Burlington Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Brad Kyle, Utica
Jerry Owens, Utica
Jeffrey Patton, Utica
Eden Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
David Baker, St. Louisville
Leonard Laughman, St. Louisville
Eden Township Fiscal Officer, (vote for not more than 1 – unexpired term ending 03/31/2028)
Alison L. Mears, St. Louisville
Dawn M. Nelson, St. Louisville
Etna Township Trustee, (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Adrian L. Adams, Pataskala
John Carlisle, Millersport
Ryan E. Davis, Pataskala
Mark Evans, Pickerington (incumbent)
David B. Fulmer, Pataskala
Litichia McIntyre, Pataskala
Rozland McKee, Pataskala
Kenneth K Starkey, Reynoldsburg
Robert Stewart, Pataskala
Rachele Zelanzny, Pataskala
Fallsbury Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Steven Billman, Frazeysburg
Monte McCoy, Frazeysburg
Franklin Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Jay Clark, Newark
Jeremy Saling, Newark
Granville Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
William E. Hoekstra, Granville
Leonard Hubert, Granville
J. Ben Barton, Granville
Hanover Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
James Davis, Newark
Patrick Simpson, Newark
Heath Smith, Newark
Harrison Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Eric Smith, Pataskala
Mark Van Buren, Hebron
Hartford Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Leanne S Bishop, Croton
Curt Booher, Croton
Marc Dopp, Sunbury
Hopewell Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
David Medley, Newark
Joseph Mitchell, Hopewell
Jersey Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Ben Pieper, Pataskala
Daniel Wetzel, Johnstown
Liberty Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
William Bogantz, Johnstown
Douglas Strait, Johnstown
Licking Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
John H. Holman, Thornville
Dave Miller, Newark
Rob Miller, Hebron
David Moraine , Thornville
Gregory Smith, Newark
Madison Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Patrick Chesterson, Newark
Richard Houston, Newark
Mary Ann Township Trustee – vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Charles T. Bodle, Newark
Rodney Lothes, Newark
McKean Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Jared McLaughlin, Granville
Derek Simon, Newark
Jeff Wintermute, Newark
Monroe Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Scott Hendren, Johnstown
Jonathon Merriman, Johnstown
Mike Sileargy, Johnstown
Joey Robertson, Johnstown
Newton Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Scott Ellis, Newark
Jeffrey S. Posey, Newark
Newark Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
No Candidate Filed
No Candidate Filed
Newark Township Fiscal Officer – (vote for not more than 1 – unexpired term ending 03/31/2028)
No Candidate Filed
Perry Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Dalton Lee, Nashport
Joshua Nethers, Newark
St. Albans Township Trustee -(vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Bruce Lane, Alexandria
Tad Van Ness, Alexandria
Michael Washington, Alexandria
Union Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Jeffrey Sharps, Granville
Roger Start, Granville
Washington Township Trustee – (vote for not more than 2 – full term commencing 01/01/2026)
Sam Parsons, Utica
Rex J. Stevenson, Utica
SCHOOL BOARDS
Granville Exempted Village School District Board of Education – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Melanie Kohlheim, Granville
John Kronk, Granville
Heath City School District Board of Education – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026) |
Mark F. Grise, Heath
Miranda Spicer, Heath
Dianne Winter, Heath
Johnstown-Monroe Local School District Board of Education – (overlap to Delaware County, vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Ruth Booher, Johnstown
Jesse Coppel, Johnstown
Steven Frazier, Johnstown
Ryan T. Gilkey, Johnstown
Timothy Swauger, Johnstown
Lakewood Local School District Board of Education – (vote for not more than 3 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Jonathan Lynch, Thornville
Jacquelyn Mitchell, Hebron
Kelly E. Rayburn, Hebron
Licking Heights Local School District Board of Education – (overlap to Franklin County, vote for not more than 3 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026
Kevin Andrew, Blacklick
Karlie Bishop, Pataskala
Paul Johnson, Blacklick
Mark Rader, Pataskala
Licking Valley Local School District Board of Education – (vote for not more than 3 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Luellen P. Deeds, Newark
Craig A. Nethers, Newark
Julie Stedman, Newark
Casey Williams, Newark
Newark City School District Board of Education – (vote for not more than 2 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Mark Christenberry, Newark
Daniel L. Hunt, Newark
Newark City School District Board of Education – (vote for not more than 1 – Unexpired Term Ending 12/31/2027)
Joseph Quackenbush, Newark
North Fork Local School District Board of Education – (overlap to Knox County, vote for not more than 3 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Farrah Cooperider, Granville
Rob Krueger, Utica
Daniel Lewis Pargeon, Newark
Clay Rowly, Mt. Vernon
Northridge Local School District Board of Education – (overlap to Delaware and Knox Counties, vote for not more than 3 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Jessica Cermak, Utica
Rachel Smith, Sunbury
Andew Williams, Alexandria
Southwest Licking Local School District Board of Education – (overlap to Fairfield County, vote for not more than 3 – full term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Michael L Miller, Pataskala
Tanya L Moore, Pataskala
Catherine Spindler, Pataskala
John Vincent, Granville
Licking Regional Educational Service Center, (overlap to Delaware, Fairfield and Knox Counties, vote for not more than 3 – Full Term Commencing 01/01/2026)
Matthew Clark , Newark
Robert D. Essex, Granville
No Candidate Filed
Issues:
Here are the issues that have been filed for voter consideration in the Nov. 4 General Election, subject to final approval by the Licking County Board of Elections on Aug. 18
COUNTY
Licking County: Property Tax – Renewal – 1 Mill, for a period of 10 years, for the purpose of operation of community addiction services providers and community mental health services providers and acquisition, construction, renovation, financing, maintenance, and operation of alcohol and drug addiction facilities and mental health facilities.
CITIES
City of Newark: Income Tax Increase – Additional, 0.5% for the General Fund dedicated to the operation and maintenance of essential municipal services, including, but not limited to, police and fire services, public safety initiatives, and street repair and maintenance.
City of Newark: Charter Amendment – Shall Article 12.01 (Placing the Director of Human Resources within the Classified Service of the City of Newark) be amended as recommended by the Discretionary Charter Review Commission.
VILLAGES
Village of Alexandria and St. Albans Township: Proposed merger conditions between the Village of Alexandria and the Township of St. Albans.
Village of Buckeye Lake: Income Tax, Ordinance 2025-28, establishing a 1.5% levy on income earned for general municipal operations, maintenance, new equipment, extension and enlargement of municipal services and facilities, and capital improvements.
Village of Buckeye Lake: Charter amendment: To amend Article 7 to modify the membership of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Village of Hanover: Property Tax – Additional – 3 mills, 5 years, for the purpose of the provision of street and walkway purposes.
TOWNSHIPS
Bennington Township: Property Tax – Renewal – 1 mill, continuing period of time, for the purpose of fire protection and emergency medical services.
Franklin Township: Property Tax – Renewal – 2 mills, for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of fire protection and emergency medical services.
Franklin Township: Property Tax, Renewal – 2 mills, 5 years, for the purpose of general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads and bridges.
Hanover Township: Property Tax – Renewal – 2.1 mills, for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of fire protection and emergency medical services.
Hanover Township: Property Tax – Additional – 0.5 mill, for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of maintaining and operating cemeteries.
Harrison Township: Property Tax – Renewal – 2 mills, for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads and bridges.
Hartford Township: Property Tax – Replacement –1 mill, for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of fire protection and emergency medical services.
Hartford Township: Property Tax – Renewal – 3 mills, for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads and bridges.
Mary Ann Township: Property Tax – Renewal – 2 mills, continuing period of time, for the purpose of general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads and bridges.
Newton Township: Property Tax – Replacement & Increase – replacement of 6.5 mills of two existing levies and an increase of 1 mill, not to exceed 7.5 mills for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of fire protection and emergency medical services.
Newark Township: Property Tax – Additional – 1.5 mills, for 5 years, for the purpose of general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads and bridges.
Jersey Township: Property Tax – Replacement – replacement of 1.6 mills for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of fire protection and emergency medical services.
Perry Township: Zoning Plan for the unincorporated area of the township.
St. Albans Township: Property Tax – Renewal – 3 mills and Increase 0.5 mill constiture a tax 3.5 mills, for a period of 5 years, for the purpose of general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads and bridges.
SCHOOLS
Southwest Licking Local Schools: Bond Issue, 3.48 mills, 35 years, for the purpose of constructing school facilities and renovating repairing, expanding, improving, and constructing additions to school facilities; furnishing and equipping the same; improving the sites thereof; and acquiring real estate and interest therein.
LIQUOR OPTIONS
Village of Hebron: Sunday sale of wine and mixed beverages, off premise sales, Englefield, Inc. d/b/a Hebron Duchess, 102 E. Main St, Hebron, Ohio 43025.
City of Newark 1B: Sunday sale of wine and mixed beverages, off premise sales, Englefield, Inc. d/b/a Dayton Rd Duchess, 57 Dayton Road, Newark, Ohio 43055.
City of Pataskala 4-A: Sale of wine and mixed beverages, off premise sales (Monday – Friday), Ivory Barn LLC. d/b/a Ivory Barn 341 S Main St, Pataskala, Ohio 43062.
City of Pataskala 4-A: Sunday sale of wine and mixed beverages, off premise sales, Ivory Barn LLC. d/b/a Ivory Barn 341 S Main St, Pataskala, Ohio 43062.