Four Lucas County races will have contested primary elections in March, so long as the candidates who filed petitions to run for office did so properly.
The filing deadline to make it on the March 17 ballot was 4 p.m. Wednesday, and elections officials will meet Friday to begin certifying each candidate. Those who win their primary elections will move on to the November general election.
In the race for Lucas County sheriff, a seat which will be vacant once Sheriff John Tharp retires when his term expires at the end of 2020, five Democrats filed petitions.
Oregon Police Chief Mike Navarre, Toledo City Councilman Gary Johnson, Lucas County Sheriff’s Lt. Ronald Collins, retired Lucas County Sheriff’s official Maurice Morris, and retired Ohio Department of Public Safety official Earl Mack will face off for the Democratic spot on the November ballot.
Samuel Mysinger, a current Lucas County Sheriff’s employee, filed but without a party affiliation. Republican Brett Warner also filed to run for the seat. He is the Lucas County Sheriff’s community affairs director and oversees the DARE program. He also serves as a Waterville Township trustee.
Toledo City Councilman Chris Delaney, Oregon Police Det. Sgt. Kelly Thibert, and Toledo Police Sgt. Daniel Raab had pulled petitions and screened for the Lucas County Democratic Party’s endorsement but did not file to run. Party leadership did not endorse any one candidate but recommended voters pick from Mr. Delaney, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mack, or Mr. Raab. Chief Navarre did not seek the party’s endorsement.
The Lucas County Recorder also will have a contested primary.
Republicans Dan Cobb and Pam Haynam are vying for the chance to run against incumbent Phil Copeland, a Democrat, in the general election. Mr. Copeland is running unopposed in the primary.
Mr. Cobb is running on a platform to essentially eliminate the county recorder’s office. He said he wants to move many of the office’s operations online and consolidate the office with the Lucas county auditor. Changing the county’s form of government, which currently calls for the existence of a recorder’s office, would take a vote of the people.
“I will not be seeking reelection, as I believe this can be achieved in less than four years,” he said.
Mr. Cobb came under fire on social media in November after he commented on a local news story about the city of Toledo being recognized as welcoming and supportive of the LGBTQ community.
“Why wouldn’t we? We have one on council. He looked precious in drag the other night too by the way lol,” his post read.
He was referring to Toledo councilman Nick Komives, who commented back, “Thanks for the compliment, Dan!”
Some on social media called his comments bigoted and unprofessional, but the candidate said his comment was not meant to offend.
“I obviously should have used more words than I did to make my point clear,” he said. “I didn’t feel like it was news. We’ve been open and accepting of gay people in this community for decades ... I dismissed it as a couple of wackos, honestly. Nick wasn’t offended so I didn’t apologize.”
Mrs. Haynam said she filed to run because she wants to see more women in elected Lucas County offices. She held three terms on the Sylvania school board and is in her fifth year as chairman of the Ohio Council of Community Schools, which sponsors charter schools across the state.
She ran unsuccessfully for Lucas County commissioner in 2006 and for the state board of education in 2010.
“I think the recorder’s office needs active leadership, something it’s been lacking for a long time,” Mrs. Haynam said.
Nickolas Berente also filed for the seat on Wednesday, but he did not indicate party affiliation. He ran as a Republican for Lucas County Clerk of Courts in 2016.
Both Lucas County commissioner seats up for election will have contested primaries, as two Republicans each filed to run against incumbents Pete Gerken and Tina Skeldon Wozniak, both Democrats.
Ron Murphy, who ran unsuccessfully against Chris Delaney last month for Toledo City Council’s District 6 seat, and Sandy Bashaw, who ran for county commissioner in 2018 but withdrew her name before election day, will face off in March to run against Mr. Gerken in November.
Tom Names, who ran unsuccessfully against Sam Melden last month for Toledo City Council’s District 5 seat, and John Robinson will compete for votes in March to face Mrs. Wozniak.
There are 10 other Lucas County offices up for election in 2020 that will be on the March 17 ballot, but none has a contested primary.
The race for president
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld filed paperwork with Ohio to challenge President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination on March 17.
On the Democratic side, nearly all of the major candidates filed the necessary paperwork.
They were U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont; former Vice President Joe Biden; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota; South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg; U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts; former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg; U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, of New Jersey; U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett, of Colorado; New York billionaire Tom Steyer; former Obama cabinet member Julian Castro; New York entrepreneur Andrew Yang; U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, of Hawaii; former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; and former U.S. Rep. John Delaney, of Maryland.
Among the few of the missing was California author Marianne Williamson, who had made the Democratic debate stage in the past but did not qualify for Thursday's debate in Los Angeles. Failure to file raises questions about the long-term viability and strategy of a campaign.
Blade staff writers Jim Provance and Liz Skalka contributed.
First Published December 18, 2019, 11:21 p.m.
