Candidates, issues certified for primary

The Lake County Elections Board Feb. 15 certified its candidate and issue filings for the May 8 primary.

There was only one major change to the ballot: Democratic 61st District state representative candidate Rick Walker will run as a write-in candidate.

Elections Board Director Jan Clair said Walker withdrew his petitions Feb. 14 and filed as a write-in. Clair said Walker would not have had enough valid signatures to run for the seat.

“He was informed he could withdraw prior to the board taking action and file as a write-in, so that’s what he chose to do,” Clair said.

Clair said as a policy, they’ve always contacted candidates who do not have enough valid signatures and advised them of their options prior to the board’s certification.

The write-in candidate deadline is Feb. 26.

Walker was the only Democratic candidate on the ballot for the 61st District house seat. Two Republicans — John Plecnik and Jamie Callender—will square off in the primary for the seat currently held by term-limited Rep. Ron Young, R-Leroy Township.

Statewide candidates and the statewide issue on redistricting reform will be certified by Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office on Feb. 27.

The Lake County Elections Board also does not certify the Ohio Senate 25th District race, as the candidates file in Cuyahoga County.

May 8 is a partisan primary election, so voters will have to choose a political party or a non-partisan-issues-only ballot.

Lake County voters choosing the issues-only ballot will have two countywide issues on the ballot in addition to the statewide redistricting issue.

One is asking for a renewal of a levy for the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board and the other is an additional levy for the Lake County Crime Lab.

Voters in Willowick, Waite Hill, Leroy Township, Kirtland School District, Chardon School District and Willoughby-Eastlake School District also will see issues on the ballot.

May 8 also marks the first time the county’s new electronic pollbooks will be used in a partisan primary.

“The voter, as they go to sign their signature, will choose the party ballot,” Clair said.

“So it will be a very nice process. You choose what you want, it’ll come up on the screen and if that’s what you’ve chosen, you sign your name and the authority to vote slip will be issued reflecting your choice.”