Medina County Board of Elections rejects two candidates for election

MEDINA — The Medina County Board of Elections rejected two candidates who filed to run for election this year because they did not have enough valid signatures on their petitions. Andie Rodriguez filed to run for Brunswick City Council Ward 3. Carol Lawler, director of the Medina County Board of Elections, said Rodriguez had 46 valid signatures but needed 50. Rodriguez filed 59 signatures, but 13 were rejected for a variety of reasons, such as the person signing not living in Ward 3 or signatures not matching what was on file. Also, for Wadsworth City Council Ward 4, Gary Fox filed to run but similarly did not have enough valid signatures, the elections board said. Lawler said he needed 25 valid signatures but only 24 were approved for similar reasons to Rodriguez. He submitted 27 signatures to the board of elections. Lawler said that out of the 121 precincts in the county, 75 are participating in the election. The candidate primary races in the county on the May ballot are in Wadsworth. Wadsworth Law Director Tom Morris and Susana Lewis, chief magistrate for the Medina County Probate and Juvenile Court, are running for Wadsworth Municipal Judge. Current Wadsworth City Council President Bob Thurber will challenge incumbent Mayor Robin Laubaugh for her seat. There are also five Republican candidates running in the primary for council-at-large, and three of those five will move on to the next election. Those three will run against the one Democratic candidate in November to determine which three candidates will be councilmen. The following Republican candidates are running for Wadsworth City Council at-large: Susan Hanlon Chris Maxwell Incumbent Dan Rospert Incumbent Tom Stugmyer Robert Titus An article in The Gazette posted on Feb. 3 contained incorrect information on the primary election which stated that candidate races other than these three would be on the May ballot. Rather, the other candidates that were certified by the Board of Elections will advance to the general election ballot in November. The board also reviewed and signed off on the issues for this election. The following issues and a local liquor option will be on the May ballot: Brunswick: The city is seeking a 0.82-mill bond issue with a duration of 20 years to build a new centralized fire station. Brunswick Schools: The district has a 3.33-mill bond issue on the May ballot that would last 37 years for the purpose of constructing a new Brunswick High School along with other, smaller projects in the district. Brunswick Hills Township: The township is asking for a 1-mill, five-year additional levy for funding fire and EMS services. Buckeye Schools: The district has a 5.6-mill bond issue with a duration of 35 years to build a new seven through 12 school in the district. Chatham Township: The township is seeking a renewal levy for fire and EMS services that is 2 mills and would last five years. Rittman: The city has a 0.5 percent income tax that would be continuous for general municipal operations and capital improvements. The issue is shared with Wayne County. Westfield Fire and Rescue District: The district has an additional, 3.5-mill levy that is continuous on the May ballot for fire and EMS services. White Timbers & Grounds: Wadsworth Township, local option for liquor sales. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.