LISBON — There’s going to be a new judge on the Columbiana County Municipal Court bench in January after Republicans chose Danielle Menning as their candidate Tuesday night instead of appointed Judge Kelly Linger, who had been endorsed by the county Republican Party.

Menning, 41, of Leetonia, will be unopposed in November since no Democrats filed for the position, so she’ll take over as the county’s newest judge on Jan. 1. She earned 4,401votes while Linger received 4,373 votes, giving Menning 50.16 % of the vote for the win, according to complete but unofficial results from the county Board of Elections.

“I am extremely happy and thankful to all of the voters for putting their confidence in me,” Menning said when contacted. “I think my entire team that helped me worked extremely hard.”

Menning said she received a call from Linger and “she graciously congratulated me.”

Both Menning and Linger were county assistant prosecutors, along with fellow assistant prosecutor Christopher Weeda, who were all three recommended to the governor for appointment to the judge’s post left vacant by former Municipal Court Judge Katelyn Dickey, who was appointed to the Seventh District Court of Appeals. The governor chose Linger, 46, of Wellsville, and she’s served since last summer in the unexpired term which ends this year. Both she and Menning were vying to be the Republican candidate for the new six-year term.

“I am looking forward to being a judge for all of the people of Columbiana County. I give God the glory for all this,” Menning said.

When contacted, Linger said “it was a hard fought campaign that came down to handful of votes that didn’t fall in my favor. I congratulate attorney Menning and I wish her nothing but the best.”

According to county Board of Elections Administrative Assistant Niki Wilkinson, the determination of whether there’s going to be a recount can’t happen until the results are finalized and certified by the board. There are 23 provisional ballots that need to be checked to make sure they’re valid and there are still 46 outstanding absentee ballots which haven’t been returned yet. Absentee ballots had to be postmarked with Monday’s date and must arrive in the office within four days.

The difference in the judge race was 28 votes. In order for there to be an automatic recount, the margin must be less than half of 1%. If it doesn’t qualify for an automatic recount, a candidate can request a recount, but at their expense.

Menning graduated from Crestview High School in 2002, earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Kent State University in 2006. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law in May 2009, passing the bar just a few months later.

Her work experience started in January 2007 while in law school as co-director of the jail inmate assistance program and appellate review office associate for the University of Akron Legal Clinic. From June 2008 to November 2008, she was a judicial extern for a Summit County Common Pleas Court judge. From June 2009 to January 2010, she served as a staff attorney/intern for Oldham Kramer and from January 2010 to July 2012, she served as an associate with Zuzolo Law Offices. From July 2012 to August 2013, she worked as a landman for Larkspur Land Group LLC.

From April 2011 to November 2021, she worked with her husband in their family-owned business, Menning Photographic. She joined the prosecutor’s office in January 2020 as an assistant prosecutor and remains there, holding people accountable for their crimes in Municipal Court and now Juvenile Court.

Menning resides with her husband of 14 years, Josh, and their three children.

mgreier@mojonews.com