May 6, 2009
Several Ohio Communities Hold Primaries for Municipal Court Judgeships
A small number of Ohio communities featured contested races in primary elections Tuesday for municipal court judge.
Of the four municipalities with more than one candidate vying for a municipal court bench seat, only one – Portsmouth – had two candidates running from each major political party. Other communities did not hold primaries on Tuesday because of a lack of competitive races, because they operate as charter cities and hold their primaries at later dates in the year (as is the case in Toledo), or because candidates proceed directly to the general election.
Here are results from the contested municipal court races according to unofficial election returns:
- The race for Findlay Municipal Court in Hancock County appears headed for a recount. Jonathan P. Starn led by 16 votes over Donald J. Rasmussen for the Republican nomination out of more than 7,700 votes cast, according to unofficial results released late Tuesday by the Hancock County Board of Elections. Kelton K. Smith was in third place and Garth W. Brown was in fourth. Jody O'Brien, director of the Board of Elections, told the Courier of Findlay that a recount would be conducted after provisional votes are counted and the results are certified May 18. There were no candidates for the Democratic nomination.
- For Portsmouth Municipal Court, James Scott Smith won the Republican primary, while Steve Mowery won the Democratic primary.
- In Bedford, challenger Pamela Ann O’Bannon defeated incumbent municipal court Judge Peter J. Junkin in the Democratic primary.
- For the Elyria Municipal Court seat being vacated by retiring Judge John R. Musson, Jay B. Grunda won the five-person Democratic primary, while Gary C. Bennett was the lone Republican candidate on the ballot.
All judges in Ohio are elected to six-year terms. Elections for municipal court judgeships occur in odd-numbered years, while elections for Supreme Court of Ohio, appeals court and common pleas court judges occur in even-numbered years.
For complete official primary election results, consult one of Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections.
Supreme Court Contacts: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.