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LISBON -- The Nov. 3 general election ballot will include issues for four additional tax levies and an additional income tax, eight tax levy renewals and two local liquor options, along with Columbiana County, state and federal candidates.
The Columbiana County Board of Elections on Wednesday certified the two local liquor options for businesses looking to add Sunday sales, finding they both met all the requirements and had more than enough valid signatures. Both needed 50 valid signatures.
American Legion John Adams Post 442 in Salineville submitted petitions with 69 signatures, with 66 signatures found valid for the Salineville precinct. Quaker Beverage, doing business as Gene's Drive-Thru, collected 68 signatures, with 55 signatures found valid for the Salem 2A precinct.
Only voters in those specific precincts will vote on the local liquor options.
The filing deadline for issues and options for the fall ballot fell on Aug. 4. The deadline for any write-in candidates is Aug. 24.
Several entities are asking voters for new money sources, including East Palestine City Schools for a 1% earned income tax which if approved will generate an estimated $1.8 million for the school district. The village of East Palestine is also seeking some charter amendments.
Other issues seeking additional money include: West Branch school district, additional 1-mill, five-year general permanent improvement levy for $441,471; Liverpool Township, additional 1.45-mill continuous fire levy for $127,440; Wayne Township, additional 3-mill, five-year fire levy for $78,781; and Perry Township, additional 1.5-mill, five-year police levy for $222,295.
Levies seeking renewal include: East Palestine, 2-mill, five-year police levy renewal, $134,786; Fairfield Township, 1.6-mill, five-year road levy renewal for $388,340; West Township, 3-mill, five-year road levy renewal for $245,120; Salem City, 1.3-mill, five-year parks levy renewal for $235,982; Butler Township, 3-mill, five-year road levy/general improvements renewal for $171,398; Center Township, 0.286-mill, five-year fire levy renewal for $19,087; Knox Township, 1.5-mill, five-year road levy renewal for $166,446; and Middleton Township, 3.22-mill, five-year fire levy renewal for $231,229.
County candidates, who are all Republicans and currently unopposed for re-election, include Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Baronzzi, Commissioner Mike Halleck and Auditor Nancy Gause Milliken.
For state representative 79th District, incumbent Republican Monica Robb Blasdel of New Waterford will face Democrat Bob Guy of East Liverpool in her re-election bid. For state senator, incumbent Republican Al Cutrona of Canfield will face Democrat Michael Kripchak of Youngstown in his bid for re-election.
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli of Salem will face Democrat Elizabeth Kirtley of New Philadelphia for the Sixth District seat. Candidates for U.S. Senator include appointed Republican Jon Husted, who filled the seat of J.D. Vance when he was elected Vice President, Democrat Sherrod Brown, who lost his seat to Republican Bernie Moreno, and Libertarian Willam B. Redpath.
Seventh District Court of Appeals candidates will include Republican Molly Johnson of Canfield for the Feb. 9, 2027 term and Republican Judge Mark Anthony Hanni of Canfield and Democrat Katherine Rudzik of Poland.
Other state contests includes governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor of state, secretary of state, treasurer of state and Ohio Supreme Court justices.
In other business, the election board approved July bills totaling $43,892. Director Kim Fusco also announced some upcoming dates, including Aug. 31 for ES&S to do the programming for the fall ballot, Sept. 21 for the public testing of the system, meetings of the board on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 and possibly the official certification on Nov. 20.
She also advised the board she's looking to outsource the absentee ballot mailing, just as in previous years. The last several years, Graphic Village, located in Ohio has done the printing, assembling and mailing of the absentee ballots. Fusco said they've never had any problems with the company.
She and Deputy Director Niki Wilkinson also announced that cards are being sent out statewide to all registered voters in Ohio giving them the opportunity to request an absentee ballot. They both said it can be confusing for voters because the parties also send out reminders. The cards are only requests for absentee ballots, not the actual ballots and only someone who wants to vote absentee by mail needs to fill one out.
The board also received a $10,000 grant from the Ohio Secretary of State for security directives, which may be used for a new laptop for out front at the counter for dealing with the in-office voting and a new ballot printer.