About two dozen people rolled into Bryn Du Mansion in Granville for a special event – not for a concert or celebration, but so they could understand what it means to run for local office positions, and more importantly, how to do it right.
Hosted by the Granville Area Chamber Alliance and the League of Women Voters of Licking County, the first-ever election academy on Monday, June 23, offered potential candidates words of wisdom from the Licking County Board of Elections, former and current Granville officeholders, a campaign treasurer, and a campaign manager.
In Granville, five seats are up for election in November: two on the Granville Board of Education, three on the Granville Village Council, and two of three seats for Granville Township Trustees.
The event gave potential candidates information they need to enter the election. Starting with the Licking County Board of Elections, Director Brian Mead walked attendees through the packet they would eventually turn into the board if they decide to run. This includes petitions, and Mead and Deputy Director Tess Wigginton emphasized the importance of precision in this part of the process.
Attendees were told to complete all dates and candidate statements before collecting signatures and were reminded that candidates cannot sign their own petitions. Common errors, such as filling out forms in the wrong order or submitting incomplete packets, have affected elections in the past, even stopping incumbents from getting on the ballot for reelection.
Wigginton recommended using a checklist on the front of the packet.
“We even used a big font so you can’t miss anything,” she said.
The Board of Elections staff cannot help candidates in filling out the forms to participate in the election process. As much as they might want to help, according to Mead and Wigginton, there are laws that bar them from aiding anyone in the process.
“We recommend you have a previously elected official review your packet before you hand it in,” Mead said. “Once we know something isn’t factual, we can’t accept anything else.”
The room was engaged, attendees jotting down notes as they asked questions to learn more about the intricacies of the petition process.
After candidates turn in their petitions and packets, they have a campaign to run.
Jim Bidigare, a former campaign treasurer, and Regina Martin, a former campaign manager, shared advice about how to open specific bank accounts needed for campaigning, how to choose people to be in your inner-circle, and how to understand voters.
Martin said that a strong support team is crucial when running for any position.
“You need to look past your close friends and family,” she said. “They can be there and be a great help, but you should also look for people with specific skill sets and tasks they can excel at. You will need emotional and financial support, but also people to wear your t-shirts around town, or hand out flyers for you at community events.”
Martin and current and previous officeholders emphasized the importance of being around people, knowing your voters, and making yourself accessible to them.
Bidigare and Martin were followed by Kevin Bennett, a former Granville Township trustee and former Granville Village Council member; Aaron Olbur, a current Granville Village Council member; and Russ Ginise, a former Granville Board of Education Member and past president of that board. Each shared their own stories, their reason for running for office, and the unexpected challenges they faced.
“For the village, door-to-door campaigning can actually work,” Bennett said. “Meanwhile, the township is much more spread out, takes more time and people, plus more people in the township have dogs.”
He also emphasized the importance of having thick skin: “People speak without filters,” he said. “Online and in-person, people will take a sharp edge to you.”
Granville Village Council Member Aaron Olbur first shared his reason for running: “I have two young daughters, and when I looked at the council, I wasn’t sure who was representing their interests. it is important for everyone in the community to have a voice.”
Olbur ran through the logistics involved in managing the responsibilities of a position after winning it. “There are two meetings a month, but on the Village Council, you have to serve on certain committees, which adds a few more meetings to your schedule.”
Ginise also commented on the time commitment. “Expect to add an extra 20-30 minutes to your trips to the IGA or post office,” he said. “I even started grocery shopping just a few towns over.”
But Ginise doesn’t regret his decision in the slightest.
“I was asked to join a levy committee, and since then, I have been involved in some way,” he said. “It is easy to get your foot in the door, work on a levy committee, speak at public comments, throw your hat in the ring, and get after it.”
Attendees said the event was informative and helpful to them, and they were able to learn a lot more about the process and how it plays out.
Alex Morrow attended the event as a prospective candidate for the Granville Village Council, a goal inspired by a close friend, Melissah Pawlikowski, of Granville, who attended the event with him.
“Public participation and accessibility are important,” Morrow said. “This event was great to learn the process but also hear others’ experiences and have a level set of expectations.”
Melanie Kohlheim is a mother of three, with two high school-aged students and one 3-year-old. Kohlheim wants to join the Board of Education to ensure the quality of education for her youngest is the same as for her other children. She has served on the Granville Education Foundation for a number of years and now serves as president.
“My biggest takeaway was: DO NOT mess up the petitions,” She said with a laugh. “But honestly, this event was great to understand pretty much everything about the packets and what I should start thinking about for campaigning.”
A longtime Granville community member, Leonard Hubert, also attended the event and has expressed interest in running for Granville Township trustee. He has previous experience after serving on the Granville Township Board of Zoning Appeals, Licking County Tax Incentive Review Council, Ohio Cancer Research Associates, Par Excellence Academy, Granville Township Open Space Committee and a former member of the Granville Education Foundation and Mental Health & Recovery for Licking and Knox counties.
“There are a lot of ‘whys’ for me, and this event just made it more clear to me that I want to continue my 20 years of service to the community,” Hubert said. “I am also concerned with the current growth and state perception of Licking County, and I know a number of people are concerned for the future of Granville Township, and I want to play a role in shaping its future.”
The deadline for candidates to file petitions to run for office in the Nov. 4 election is 4 p.m. on Aug. 6. Contact the board of elections for details.
Delaney Brown writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.