Candidates line up for primaries

Stage set for lively May 7 primary

Mayoral and city council races will heat up this year in Lorain, North Ridgeville and Avon Lake. Meanwhile, candidates have filed to run for several positions in Lorain County communities. Feb. 6 was the deadline for candidates to file petitions and for communities to file necessary paperwork to put issues on the ballot for the May 7 primary election. The ballots may yet change again. Lorain County Board of Elections staff will examine the candidates’ petitions and the elections board will meet Feb. 14 to certify the petitions. The full list of candidates is posted at loraincountyelections.com.

Lorain

Based on the filings as of 4 p.m., Feb. 6, it appeared Lorain Council will get at least two new members. Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr. and Ward 7 Councilman Joe Faga did not file to run for re-election.

Arroyo, who has a charge of domestic violence pending at Lorain Municipal Court, said he was saddened to announce he would not seek his seat. But he told his supporters he does not plan on being gone too long. “I want to say thank you to those that would call me and give me thoughts on what was happening agreeing or disagreeing with me, but most importantly, those that voted,” Arroyo said. “But as I discussed with my family in the beginning of this new voyage a few years ago, my family must be my first priority, and with that being said, I must focus on them and myself, us healing and rebuilding our relationships before I can continue on working to help healing and rebuilding our community.”

Lorain Council seats

Democratic candidates came out in force to run for Council at-large seats. The Democrats are: incumbents Mary Springowski, Joe Koziura and Mitch Fallis, and challengers Antonio Barrios, Tony Dimacchia, Joshua M. Garcia, Rita L. Garcia, Inez James and Max Schaefer. Dimacchia previously stated his intention to run for mayor, but said he would not challenge Ritenauer if Ritenauer sought re-election. Ritenauer remains important in the efforts to straighten out Lorain City Schools, Dimacchia said. The school district currently is in the state’s rating of academic distress and under control of a CEO appointed by the Lorain Academic Distress Commission. Dimacchia’s third term on the school board expires at the end of 2019. The board has made progress up until House Bill 70, the state law that set up governing Lorain Schools, Dimacchia said. Depending on the outcome of the City Council election, Dimacchia did not commit when asked if he would run for school board again. That seat has an August filing deadline. “My number one priority is to run a strong campaign for council at-large and try to help the city out and continue working with Chase,” Dimacchia said. In Lorain’s Ward 2, Democrats will see a three-way primary, with incumbent Dennis Flores and challengers Kyriece Brooks and Rob McFarland on the ballot. In Ward 4, Dan Nutt has filed to run as a Democrat. Incumbent Ward 4 Councilman Greg Argenti has run as an independent candidate and would have a petition filing deadline on May 6. In Ward 6, Democratic voters will choose between Rey Carrion and Javier Espitia, who are seeking to succeed Arroyo. There is no Republican challenger. In Ward 7, Democratic candidates Joel B. Gleason and Cory L. Shawver will square off; the candidates are seeking to succeed Faga. There is no Republican challenger. Former city councilman Bret Schuster and Harry Williamson, a former Lorain Port Authority board member, have filed to run as Democrats for Lorain City Council president. On Feb. 4, Schuster said he intended to file and run for the seat if Council President Joel Arredondo is selected as a Lorain County commissioner. But Schuster said he would not challenge Arredondo if he remains Council president. Arredondo has filed to run as a Democrat for the Council president seat. Arredondo also is seeking appointment to the County Commission seat vacated by Ted Kalo, who was appointed Lorain clerk of courts. The Democrats have set up a three-way primary for clerk of courts. Kalo, a Democrat, filed to run for that post, along with Jeffrey Bearer and Mallory J. Santiago. The winner will face Republican challenger Trina R. Smith in November. Democrats will choose between Mayor Chase Ritenauer and challenger Dean Evans, who is seeking the mayoral seat. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Jessie M. Tower in November.

North Ridgeville In North Ridgeville, Republicans Christopher Bedinelli and Kevin Corcoran will square off in the May

primary. In November, the winner will face Democrat Paul Wolanski. The winner will succeed Mayor G. David Gillock, who announced he will step down after 16 years in office. Meanwhile, Republican and Democratic voters will see contested races for City Council seats. Republican voters in Ward 1 will choose between James R. Maleski and Holly Swenk in the May primary. In Ward 3, there will be two contested primaries: Democratic voters will choose between Jeffrey D. Bailey and Bob Jaekin, while Republican voters will choose between Bruce F. Abens and Michael J. Babet. The winners then will compete in November. In Ward 4, Republicans James A. Cleveland and Clifford B. Winkel will appear on the primary ballot. The winner will face Democrat Bob Chapek in November.

Avon Lake

Avon Lake voters will see a rematch of the 2011 election, when then-Councilman Greg Zilka edged out incumbent mayor Karl C. Zuber. Zuber now is an elected councilman and will challenge Zilka for mayor. Avon Lake does not have partisan races. The city will not have a primary election for mayor because there were only two candidates; if three or more filed for the office of mayor or a city council seat, there would be a primary, said Law Director Abe Lieberman.

Elyria

In Elyria, Democrats will see contested primaries in Wards 4, 5 and 7. In Ward 4, Democrats will choose between Kenny Oswald and Chad W. Schneider. In Ward 5, Democrats will choose between Leigh Ann Arroyo and Marcus Madison. Democrats Aaron Baker and Jack W. Cerra will compete for the Ward 7 nomination. The winner will face Libertarian candidate Brandon M. Bobbit in November.

Amherst

In Amherst, a number of candidates filed to run for city offices. The only primary in May is a Democratic contest between Andrew Flynn and David J. Kovacs to become candidate for City Council’s Ward 4 seat. The winner will take on Republican Matthew W. Nahorn, an incumbent.

Issues

• Brownhelm Township: renewal of a two-mill levy for fire and ambulance service for five-years • Lorain Port Authority: renewal of a one-mill operating levy for five years • Lorain Public Library System North Ridgeville Branch: renewal of a 1.91mill levy for current expenses for five years • Oberlin Public Library: renewal of a 1.5-mill levy for current expenses for five years • Sheffield-Sheffield Lake School District: substitute levy of 19.88 mills for necessary requirements for a continuing period of time • Amherst: renewal of a ½ percent income tax levy, with ¼ percent for street maintenance and ¼ percent for the general fund for 10 years • Elyria Precinct 7-B: local option for Sunday alcohol sales for Express Petro • LaGrange Village: replacement of a 2.7-mill levy for current expenses for five years • Lorain: replacement of a ¼ percent income tax levy for general operating funds and equipment for five years • North Ridgeville: renewal with an increase of a 2.25mill levy for ambulance and emergency response services for five years • North Ridgeville Precinct 1-D: local option for Sunday alcohol sales for Marathon • North Ridgeville Precinct 3-C: local option for Sunday alcohol sales for 83 & Chestnut Pub & Eatery LLC • Oberlin: renewal of a percent income tax levy for operating and capital improvement expenses for five years • Rochester Village: replacement of a 2.5-mill levy for current expenses for five years