PREBLE COUNTY — Despite seeking a change at the presidential level and overwhelmingly supporting Republican Donald Trump, the status quo was the choice of Preble Countians in several local and state races.
At the county level, incumbent Preble County Commissioner Chris Day (Rep.) received the majority of votes on Tuesday, Nov. 8, beating Joseph E. Renner, 12,243-7,174. This was the third successful election for Day, who will enter his new term beginning Jan. 2, 2017.
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (Rep.) beat out four other candidates to maintain his seat, including former Democratic governor Ted Strickland. According to unofficial results, Portman received 78 percent of the vote.
Preble County voters chose to keep Republican Warren Davidson in the 8th District congressional seat, giving him over 76 percent of the total votes cast.
State Representative Jeff Rezabek kept his seat as well, beating out Democrat candidate David Sparks, 15,891-3,726.
Preble County voters also selected Pat Fischer for Justice of the Supreme Court, 8.931-7,130 over Jon P. O’Donnell, and Pat DeWine, 11,729-5,180 over Cynthia Rice.
Uncontested seats appearing on the ballot included incumbent County Commissioner Denise Robertson, Prosecuting Attorney Martin Votel, Clerk of Courts Christopher B. Washington, Sheriff Michael Simpson, Recorder Jeanne Creech, Treasurer Brenda K. White, Engineer R. Kyle Cross, and Coroner Mark S. Vosler.
Also uncontested on the ballot was Maureen O’Connor for Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, and Robin N. Piper and Mike Powell for two position on the 12th District Court of Appeals.
County voters continued to support Children Services, accepting a 0.4-mill tax levy renewal, 12,717-7,336. Voters also accepted a 1-mill renewal for Senior Citizens (Preble County Council on Aging) 14,097-7,336.
Voters also decided several municipal, village and township tax issues:
•For the City of Eaton, a 0.5 percent income tax renewal, Jan. 1, 2017-Dec. 31, 2019, passed, 2,604-1,357.
•For the Village of Camden, a renewal of a 4-mill, 5-year levy for current operating expenses failed, 319-410. Camden voters also decided to not support renewal of a 6-mill, 5-year levy for police protection, voting it down, 347-383.
•For the Village of Lewisburg, a 5-year, 1-mill renewal for parks & recreation was accepted, 568-280.
•Voters in the Village of West Alexandria, accepted the renewal of a 1.4-mill, 4-year levy for current operating expenses, 435-202, and a 1.5-mill, 4-year renewal for current operating expenses, 394-233.
•In the Village of West Elkton, renewal of 1.25 mills for 5 years for emergency ambulance and medical service was accepted, 41-29.
Other tax measures decided by voters Tuesday were for Preble County’s various townships.
•For Gasper Township, a 2.1-mill, 5-year replacement levy for fire and EMS services was accepted, 1,373-599.
•Harrison Township voters accepted a 5-year, 0.6-mill levy for cemetery operations, 1,337-894, but denied an additional 1-mill levy earmarked for roads, 1,220-990.
•For Jackson Township, renewal of a 1-mill, 5-year levy for roads, was approved, 425-130.
•In Jefferson Township, and additional 1 mill for 5 years, roads and bridge, including New Paris, was rejected, 748-708.
•For Monroe Township, for fire protection, a renewal, of 0.4 mill, for 4 years was approved, 761-218; and an additional 0.5-mill for 5 years for cemetery maintenance was approved, 549-418.
• A Somers Township cemetery maintenance, a renewal levy for 0.6 mill for 5 years was approved 980-687.
• For Twin Township fire and ambulance services, a renewal of 2 mills for 5 years (excluding the Village of West Alexandria) was accepted 779-368.
•In Washington Township, an additional, 1 mill for 5 years for ambulance services, emergency medical services or both, was narrowly accepted, 509-505.
Several area school districts had tax measures on the ballot for voters to decide.
Those living in the Brookville Local School District accepted renewal of 8.99 mills, for a continuing period of time, 46-25.
Preble Shawnee voters turned down an income tax and bond issue for building new schools, 2,260-1995.
In the Tri-County North LSD, voters accepted renewal of a 2-mill, 5-year levy for improving and renovating school buildings and providing equipment, furnishings and site improvements, 1,542-1,148.
Twin Valley Community Local School District residents approved renewal of a 0.75, 5-year income tax for current expenses, to begin Jan. 1, 2018, 1,626-1,088.
Issue 23, a local option for Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor for Lanier Northwest Precinct, American Legion Post 0322, was accepted, 416-238.
