Medina County Board of Elections prepares for March primary election

MEDINA — The Medina County Board of Elections certified and rejected partisan candidates for the March election during its meeting on Tuesday. Board of Elections Director Nicole Mickley said she contacted the secretary of state's legal department regarding whether certain candidates could be certified because they made mistakes in their petitions. Incumbent Forrest Thompson, who is running for Medina County prosecutor, and incumbent Linda Hoffmann, who is in the race for Medina County recorder, both listed the incorrect commencement date, she said. The board certified both candidates because neither seat is determined by a specific date unlike such positions as commissioner. Therefore, the wrong date would not confuse petition signers. Also, incumbent in the Medina County commissioner race Aaron Harrison and Mary Emhoff, who is running for Medina County treasurer, did not have their party listed on the circulator statement, Mickley said. Harrison also did not list his party in another section of the petition, but it was listed several other times elsewhere. The board of elections also certified Harrison and Emhoff because they both have sufficient valid signatures. There were four candidates who were rejected from running for either the Democratic Central Committee or the Republican Central Committee. For instance, both Jeff Holland and Brandi Chesnik were rejected because they petitioned to be on a committee even though they are registered for the opposite party. Stephen Doubler was rejected from the Democratic committee because he has no party designation, while Mike Abella was rejected from the Republican committee because he did not submit a pen and paper signature before the deadline. All other local partisan candidates were certified by the board of elections. To view the candidates list, visit tinyurl.com/4d5wxduz. The following issues will also be on the March ballot: Brunswick City Schools' emergency renewal levy Chatham Township renewal levy for fire Rittman income tax increase for safety services Medina City Schools' additional levy for operating expenses Rittman Exempted Village School District renewal levy for permanent improvements Spencer Community Fire District additional levy Board of Elections Deputy Director Heather McDermott said she is waiting to hear back from Highland Schools about using Sharon Elementary School as a polling location. It is because the Granger Fire Station is under construction and is starting 24-hour service. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.