10-03-2023 12:06am

Township Candidates For The November Election

Beth Callahan Editor

LEBANON, OH -- Early voting for the Nov. 7, 2023 General Election begins soon. On October 11th, the day after the last day to register to vote for this year's General Election, voters will be able to start casting their ballots.

On this ballot many voters will be deciding whom to vote for when it comes to their local township positions. Township boards across the state consist of three trustees and one fiscal officer, who when elected are to serve for a 4-year term. Each township’s fiscal officer position, along with at least one township trustee seat, is up for election this year.

Residents in the incorporated cities of Lebanon and Mason do not vote on township issues since they are not part of the 11 townships that make up Warren County. But, all the other residents in Warren County, who are registered to vote, are eligible to help elect their township board members.

The trustees on the board make up the legislation portion. They have voting rights on matters that oversee the care and maintenance of the township roads, fire and police protection, cemeteries, parks and recreation, zoning and waste disposal. The Fiscal Officer, however, does not vote on legislation matters, but has all the fiscal responsibilities of the township including paying bills, payrolls and receiving revenue as it is distributed to the Township.

Here is the list of township candidates for the 2023 election.

In two of the eleven township races, both the Fiscal Officer and the Trustee incumbents are not being challenged. They are:

CLEARCREEK TOWNSHIP

Fical Officer: Russell Carolus (incumbent)
Trustee: Jason E Gabbard (incumbent)

SALEM TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Vicky VonHolle (incumbent)
Trustee: Susan Ramsey (incumbent)

Seven of the 9 remaining townships have no challengers for the Fiscal Officer position, meaning only one person is running for that position. These townships are:

DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Dan Corey (incumbent)

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Scot Fromeyer (incumbent)

HARLAN TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Ginny Williams (Incumbent)

MASSIE TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Mary A Wilkie (Incumbent)

TURTLECREEK TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Amanda K Childers (incumbent)

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Sharon Coffman (incumbent)

WAYNE TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Scott Fitzsimmons

The Townships that have more than one candidate running for Township Trustee are:

DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP

Incumbent Lelle Lutts Hedding is being challenged by Nabila Babar for trustee seat.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

Incumbent Brian S Morris is being challenged by Rob Rose for the trustee seat.

HARLAN TOWNSHIP

Four are running for the 1 trustee seat. They are:

Zack Demaree
Walt Paskins
Ed Porginski
Scott Studer

MASSIE TOWNSHIP

Incubment Mark Dawson is being challenged by Scott R Huddleson.

TURTLECREEK TOWNSHIP

Incumbent Jim VanDeGrift is being challenged by Michael L Abbott.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

James R Moorman and Dale W. Settlemyre are running against each other for the trustee position.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP

Incumbent Josh Patrick is being challenged by Wade Easterling

Two townships have more than one candidate from which to chose for both the Fiscal Officer and Trustee. They are:

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Leah Elliot and Kenny Hickey Jr are running for the same position.
Trustee: Incumbent Mark Sousa is being challenged by Joe walker

UNION TOWNSHIP

Fiscal Officer: Incumbent Shelly Lamb is being challenged by Wanda Allen
Three are running for the one trustee position. They are: James D. Bowman, Rhonda Cockerham and Steve Riley

For more information on the Nov. 7, 2023 Election, visit the warren county board of elections website by clicking here.