PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — Voters in Pickaway County turned out at a rate of 26.29% for Tuesday’s general election, casting 9,966 ballots out of 37,904 registered voters, according to unofficial results released by the county board of elections.
The election featured a slate of local races for city, village and township offices, school boards and various tax levies, with no statewide or national contests reported in the county summary. All results are unofficial and include votes from Election Day, in-office absentee, mail absentee and provisional ballots, with 44 of 44 precincts reporting.
In Circleville, Republican Barry D. Keller ran unopposed for president of council, receiving 1,552 votes, or 100%. Republican Justin Arnold also ran unopposed for treasurer, garnering 1,406 votes, or 100%.
For three at-large council seats in Circleville, Republicans swept the field: Katie Logan Hedges with 1,404 votes (35.89%), Tom Klitzka with 1,246 votes (31.85%) and Sheri Theis with 1,262 votes (32.26%).
In Circleville’s ward races, Republicans dominated unopposed contests: Jeff Hallinin in the 1st Ward with 631 votes (100%), John Moats in the 2nd Ward with 355 votes (100%) and Tom Duvall in the 4th Ward with 170 votes (100%). In the 3rd Ward, Republican Jake Davison defeated nonpartisan Audrey A. Lukasak, 217 votes (53.58%) to 188 votes (46.42%).
Elisa Peters ran unopposed for judge of the municipal court, receiving 8,038 votes (100%).
In Ashville Village, four council seats went to Jesse Burke with 348 votes (24.08%), Darryl E. Glick with 354 votes (24.50%), R. David Rainey with 366 votes (25.33%) and Ron Teeters with 377 votes (26.09%). No affiliations were listed.
Commercial Point Village saw a contested mayoral race for an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2027, with Nancy Geiger defeating Jason W. West, 429 votes (52.19%) to 393 votes (47.81%). No affiliations were listed. For four council seats, Dustyn Fox received 595 votes (41.09%), with write-ins totaling 853 votes (58.91%), including small numbers for Linda Holdren (4), Courtney Denton (3) and Veronica Cardello (2).
No valid petitions were filed for four council seats in Darbyville Village and Harrisburg Village, resulting in zero votes.
In New Holland Village, Joe Inskeep ran unopposed for mayor (unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2027), with 55 votes (100%). For four council seats, Zachary Edward Fisk received 57 votes (52.78%) and Danny Kirkpatrick 51 votes (47.22%), with no other valid petitions.
South Bloomfield Village’s Aaron Thomas ran unopposed for mayor (unexpired term), with 225 votes (100%). For four council seats, Timothy Ooten got 173 votes (45.89%) and Lisa McDorman 204 votes (54.11%), with no other valid petitions.
In Tarlton Village, write-ins totaled 5 votes (100%) for four council seats, all unassigned.
Williamsport Village council races for four seats saw Richard Watkins lead with 164 votes (24.40%), followed by Tisa Bivens (131 votes, 19.49%), Micky Grigsby (118 votes, 17.56%), T. Kate Harrison (103 votes, 15.33%), Matthew W. Fields (89 votes, 13.24%) and Mary Beth Poe (67 votes, 9.97%). No affiliations listed. For two seats on the board of trustees of public affairs, John Grigsby received 165 votes (100%), with no other valid petition.
Township trustee races included:
- Circleville Township: Ernest R. Enoch (226 votes, 47.98%) and Bob Kuhlwein (245 votes, 52.02%).
- Darby Township: James M. Corder (339 votes, 39.42%), Chris Brungarth (287 votes, 33.37%) and Garrett Musselman (234 votes, 27.21%).
- Deercreek Township: Jake Bickenheuser (243 votes, 51.92%) and Mike Angles (225 votes, 48.08%).
- Harrison Township: Chad Noggle (535 votes, 35.15%), Donnie Mayse (503 votes, 33.05%) and James C. Deal (484 votes, 31.80%).
- Jackson Township: Ian M. Fausnaugh (160 votes, 41.99%), Dale Thomas (144 votes, 37.80%) and Kevin R. Steward Sr. (77 votes, 20.21%). No valid petition for fiscal officer (unexpired term ending March 31, 2028).
- Madison Township: Austin E. Brown (158 votes, 28.78%), Ross Larue (129 votes, 23.50%), Paul Loar (129 votes, 23.50%) and Ryan A. Smith (133 votes, 24.23%).
- Monroe Township: Gary L. Moore (126 votes, 100%), with no other valid petition.
- Muhlenberg Township: R. Stan Summers (58 votes, 50.88%) and Jeffrey S. Wippel (56 votes, 49.12%).
- Perry Township: Mark Vernon (118 votes, 53.64%) and Jeff Reed (102 votes, 46.36%). Paul Peck ran unopposed for fiscal officer (unexpired term), with 125 votes (100%).
- Pickaway Township: James J. Twining (495 votes, 100%), with no other valid petition.
- Saltcreek Township: Gary Mitchel (506 votes, 44.94%), Kyle Mangione (391 votes, 34.72%) and write-ins (229 votes, 20.34%), including Diane Valentine (18).
- Scioto Township: Ralph W. Wolfe (984 votes, 27.56%), Cory Wasmus (982 votes, 27.51%), John Maynard (854 votes, 23.92%), Andy Ormiston (396 votes, 11.09%) and Daniel Hooley (354 votes, 9.92%).
- Walnut Township: Wilson G. Ett (352 votes, 39.24%), Warren R. Spangler (316 votes, 35.23%) and Jason Alan Welsh (229 votes, 25.53%).
- Washington Township: Mike Wolford (493 votes, 35.01%), Mike Paul (468 votes, 33.24%) and James R. Ewing (447 votes, 31.75%).
- Wayne Township: Brent Davis (39 votes, 52.70%) and Brenna Gibson (35 votes, 47.30%).
Faye Hicks ran unopposed for Circleville Township fiscal officer (unexpired term), with 271 votes (100%).
In school board races:
- Pickaway County Educational Service Center governing board (three seats): Bill McGowan (5,522 votes, 85.11%), with write-ins totaling 966 (14.89%), including Joy Hoover (103) and Kevin Archer (82). For two unexpired seats ending Dec. 31, 2027: Amanda Wasmus (5,272 votes, 100%).
- Ross-Pike Educational Service Center: Michelle Free Bowdle and Michael B. Kinnamon (12 votes each, 50%).
- Southern Ohio Educational Service Center (Subdistrict 4): No valid petition.
- Adena Local: Brady C. Ratzlaff (15 votes, 38.46%), Josh McQuiniff (11 votes, 28.21%) and write-ins (13 votes, 33.33%).
- Circleville City: Patty Truex (1,595 votes, 51.89%) and Terry M. Leasure (1,479 votes, 48.11%).
- Logan Elm Local: Deborah A. Shaw (1,786 votes, 51.16%), a withdrawn candidate (1,125 votes, 32.23%) and write-ins (580 votes, 16.61%), including Meghan Yahn (46) and Kyle Reichelderfer (44).
- Miami Trace Local: Steven Armstrong (64 votes, 38.32%), Jacklyn Farrens (50 votes, 29.94%), Shawn R. Grooms (46 votes, 27.54%) and write-ins (7 votes, 4.19%).
- Southwestern City: Chris Boso (15 votes, 21.43%), Steve Feucht (13 votes, 18.57%), Jason Gocha (13 votes, 18.57%), Camille Peterson (11 votes, 15.71%), Chelsea Alkire (9 votes, 12.86%) and Kelly Dillon (9 votes, 12.86%).
- Teays Valley Local: Robin Halley (2,612 votes, 53.14%) and Charles D. Morrison (2,303 votes, 46.86%).
- Westfall Local: Christy Rigsby (842 votes, 50.81%) and Sean Ruth (815 votes, 49.19%).
On ballot issues:
Circleville approved a proposed municipal income tax, 1,386 votes (67.64%) for to 663 against (32.36%).
Two local liquor options for Sunday sales in Circleville’s 3-B precinct passed: RaceTrac with 90 yes (68.70%) to 41 no (31.30%), and Roundtown Restaurant & Tavern with 96 yes (73.28%) to 35 no (26.72%).
New Holland Village renewed a tax levy, 51 for (67.11%) to 25 against (32.89%).
Deercreek Township (unincorporated) rejected an additional tax levy, 59 for (43.70%) to 76 against (56.30%).
Saltcreek Township approved an additional tax levy, 387 for (51.12%) to 370 against (48.88%).
Perry Township (unincorporated) rejected an additional tax levy, 36 for (48.00%) to 39 against (52.00%).
Logan Elm Local School District renewed an income tax, 1,618 for (63.88%) to 915 against (36.12%).
Pleasant-Darby Union Cemetery renewed a tax levy, 322 for (60.64%) to 209 against (39.36%).
Southwest Pickaway Fire District replaced a tax levy, 214 for (55.30%) to 173 against (44.70%).
DISCLAIMER: Some village and school board races have ballots cast from neighboring counties. Those numbers were not included in this article.