CHILLICOTH, Ohio — In unofficial results from Tuesday’s general election, Republicans appeared to strengthen their hold on the Chillicothe City Council, winning key at-large seats and several ward races in a night marked by close contests and unopposed incumbents. With all 22 precincts reporting, voter turnout in Ross County stood at 33.52%, reflecting steady participation in local races. The results, released by the Ross County Board of Elections, highlight a mix of Democratic and Republican victories, but tilt toward GOP gains in the nine-member council.
The at-large council seats, where voters selected three members citywide, saw a strong showing from Republican candidates. Julie A. Preston (R) led the pack with 2,909 votes (23.82% of the total), followed by Kathy Dunn (D) with 2,559 votes (20.95%), and Jeff Creed (R) with 2,498 votes (20.45%). Preston and Creed, both retired public safety employees for the city currently hold seats on council. Dunn, who served decades as the county’s elected Recorder will take her seat in January. She lost her reelection bid for her county seat last year. With service in her blood, she is sure to bring a voice to the table that voters are familiar.
Rounding out the field were Angelo M. Turner II (R) with 2,250 votes (18.42%) and Welcome Stokien (D) with 1,997 votes (16.35%). The winners—Preston, Dunn, and Creed—ensure a bipartisan at-large representation but with Republicans taking two of the three spots.
In the ward-specific races, outcomes varied by district, with Republicans prevailing in four out of six wards.
- First Ward: Incumbent Lisa Anne Bennett (R) ran unopposed, securing 1,003 votes. With no challenger, Bennett’s victory was a formality, reflecting strong local support in her district.
- Second Ward: Kathy Payne (R) edged out Margaret Bennett (D) in a tight race, garnering 637 votes (53.76%) to Bennett’s 548 votes (46.24%). The contest highlighted partisan divides, with Payne’s win flipping or maintaining Republican control in the ward.
- Third Ward: Gunner E. Barnes (D) emerged victorious over independent candidate Linsey Fasold, receiving 354 votes (61.25%) compared to Fasold’s 224 votes (38.75%). Barnes’ strong performance delivered one of the few clear Democratic wins in the ward races.
- Fourth Ward: Richard McQuirt (R) narrowly defeated John A. Thacker (D), 229 votes (52.28%) to 209 votes (47.72%). The close margin underscored the competitive nature of the race in this district.
- Fifth Ward: Gregory A. McKeever (R) faced no opposition, collecting 584 votes to secure his seat.
- Sixth Ward: Dan Demint (R) bested Jamie Brown (D) with 208 votes (58.59%) against Brown’s 147 votes (41.41%), adding another Republican victory to the tally. The race was vastly different four years ago where Demint narrowly defeated then-incumbent Brown with less than four votes.
Additionally, related citywide races saw unopposed wins for key positions. Kevin L. Shoemaker (D) won the President of Council seat with 3,327 votes, while Kristal Spetnagel (D) took City Auditor with 3,287 votes, and Jeremy M. Siberell (R) claimed City Treasurer with 3,505 votes. These roles, while not direct council seats, influence city governance in executive positions.
The election results come amid broader county trends, including defeats for tax levies like the proposed additional levy for Chillicothe City Schools, which failed 55.48% to 44.52%. Local voters noted on social media that economic concerns and public services influenced their priorities in the council races.
These unofficial tallies include Election Day and absentee votes but exclude any provisional ballots, which stood at zero in the report. Final certification by the Board of Elections is expected in the coming weeks.