More candidates are throwing their hats into the ring for upcoming town and city elections.
Richmond now has an independent candidate who has obtained enough signatures to file for mayor. Howard J. Price will face Republican Ron Oler and Democrat Dave Snow.
Any other candidates wishing to run as independents or for minor parties in city elections need to file a petition of nomination by noon June 30 containing the required number of signatures from eligible voters. Those signatures must be verified by the Wayne County voter registration office in the courthouse.
At this time, Richmond has three Republican candidates running for at-large common council seats (Jane Bumbalough, Justin Burkhardt and Jerry Purcell) who will face two Democrats (Claudia Edwards and Ron Itnyre). They will compete for three seats.
So far, there are two contested district councils seat in Richmond. Incumbent Lucinda Wright, a Democrat, faces challenger Gary Miller, a Republican, in District 2; and Republican Anne Taylor is challenging incumbent Jeff Locke, a Democrat, in District 5.
By noon July 3, candidates need to file a declaration to be a write-in candidate. That’s also the deadline for Democratic or Republican parties to select candidates to fill vacancies on the municipal election ballot. The Libertarian Party must conduct a convention to nominate candidates for city or large town offices by that date as well.
Towns with a population of less than 3,500 have a different deadline to follow for their elections.
Town candidates must file by noon Aug. 1 to run for council or clerk-treasurers.
Some Wayne County residents have begun filing for town clerk-treasurer and council roles.
Incumbents Terry Craig (Milton), Julia McCarty (Dublin) and Richard Tincher (Centerville) have filed to run again as clerk in their communities.
Seven candidates have filed so far for town councils. They are: Jack Bodiker, Centerville Ward 4; David Cate, Centerville Ward 1; Donald L Fisher, East Germantown at-large; Gene Gabbard, Dublin at-large; Laurie Ann Hayes, Fountain City at-large; Jeff Jackson, Economy at-large; and Brie Pitcock, Dublin at-large.
If candidates face opposition from within their party, a town convention will take place to finalize the ballot before the November election.
For more information about seeking office in the fall election or registering to vote, call 765-973-9304.
A version of this article appeared in the June 14 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.