ASHLAND COUNTY — A contested Republican primary for Ashland County commissioner headlines the local May primary ballot.
The filing deadline for candidates was Wednesday at 4 p.m. with the Ashland County Board of Elections for the May 5 primary election. Boards of elections must certify the validity and sufficiency of partisan candidates’ petitions by Feb. 17.
4 Republican candidates vying for November general election nomination
Incumbent Ashland County Commissioner Denny Bittle, 70, faces challenges from Burton Williams, 48, Brandon Carpenter, 38, and Jeff Hardman, 68, in the Republican party primary.
Bittle is seeking election to his fourth, four-year term as a commissioner. Hardman is challenging for a commissioner seat for the second time. Williams, a Perry Township trustee, seeks the commissioner seat after being defeated by Bittle in the 2022 primary election and Carpenter, a political newcomer, is pursuing the commissioner seat for the first time.
All four Republican candidates recently spoke in January at the Ashland County Republican Party’s first monthly luncheon of the year. Each candidate had 10 minutes to speak about their backgrounds, plans as commissioner if elected, and other thoughts related to the Board.
The winner will face Democrat Sandy Bally in November’s general election.
The May 5 primary election will determine which single candidate will represent the Republican and Democrat party nominees in the general election. Independent candidates, such as Krissi Fussner, 55, a political newcomer, must collect 183 signatures by May 4 and be verified to secure a spot on the general election ballot.
State Rep. Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) unopposed in primary
Incumbent Republican Cindy Funk was the lone candidate to file for county auditor by Wednesday’s deadline.
Similarly, incumbent Republican Probate and Juvenile Court Judge Karen DeSanto Kellogg was the only candidate to file and no one filed for the seat in the opposing party’s primary.
Incumbent Republican Congressman Max Miller has filed petitions to seek another term for the 7th Congressional District. He is unopposed in the primary. In the same race, Keith Mundy has filed petitions to run in the Democratic primary.
Mundy would face Miller in November if the petitions are validated.
Incumbent state Rep. Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) has filed petitions to seek another term for the Ohio House’s 67th District. She is unopposed in the primary. Heather Lee Sample of Ashland has filed petitions to run in the Democratic primary. She would face Melanie Miller in November if her petitions are validated.
Ballot to include two local liquor options, fire/EMS levy
According to the Ashland County Board of Elections, voters in portions of Ashland and Loudonville will decide on May 5 whether some local business can sell alcohol on Sundays.
Two precinct-level issues are pending across Ashland County. Each one applies to a specific business location:
- Ashland City 1-C: O’Bryan’s Pub Beer, 1065 Claremont Ave., is asking voters to allow Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages and spiritous liquor.
- Loudonville 2: Dawg Pound, 3120 County Road 3175, is seeking approval for Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages and spiritous liquor.
The Polk-Jackson-Perry Joint Fire District, which services 47 square miles of northeast Ashland County, will ask voters in May to renew a five-year, 1.1-mill fire protection and emergency medical services levy. The property tax levy was last renewed by voters in November 2021 with 81.45 percent of voters casting their ballot in favor of the measure, compared to the 18.55 percent who opposed.
According to Board of Election officials, the list of questions and issues which will appear on the primary ballot in May remains unofficial as of Thursday morning. The list, along with candidates, well be certified when the Board meets this coming Monday at 3:30 p.m.
Ohio Secretary of State announces statewide candidate petitions
In Columbus, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced Wednesday the list of partisan candidates who submitted petitions to run for statewide office in the primary election.
“Public service is a patriotic calling, and I want to recognize these candidates for having the courage to get in the arena, as Teddy Roosevelt described it,” LaRose said in an email.
“Our team at the Secretary of State’s office will now work with the county boards of elections to carefully review every petition signature and determine whether each candidate qualifies to appear on the primary ballot.”
The following candidates filed petitions by Wednesday’s deadline to run for a statewide office as a partisan candidate:
For U.S. Senate:
- Sherrod Brown (D)
- Jon Husted (R)
- Jeffrey M. Kanter (L)
- William B. Redpath (L)
- Ron Kincaid (D)
For Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Ohio:
- Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert A. McColley (R)
- Amy Acton, David Pepper (D)
- Heather Hill, Stuart Moats (R)
- Casey Putsch, Kimberly C. Georgeton (R)
- Donald C. Kissick, James L. Mills (L)
- Renea Turner, Jalen Turner (R)
For Attorney General of Ohio:
- Keith Faber (R)
- John J. Kulewicz (D)
- Elliott Forhan (D)
For Secretary of State of Ohio:
- Bryan Hambley (D)
- Marcell Strbich (R)
- Allison Russo (D)
- Robert Sprague (R)
- Tom Pruss (L)
For Auditor of State of Ohio:
- Frank LaRose (R)
- Annette Blackwell (D)
For Treasurer of State of Ohio:
- Seth Walsh (D)
- Kristina D. Roegner (R)
- Jay Edwards (R)
For Ohio Supreme Court:
- Marilyn Zayas (D)
- Daniel R. Hawkins (R)
For Ohio Supreme Court:
- Jill Lanzinger (R)
- Jennifer Brunner (D)
- Colleen O’Donnell (R)
- Ronald Lewis (R)
- Andrew King (R)
Next Steps:
Bipartisan county election officials will begin reviewing the petitions to determine whether each candidate met the signature requirement to be placed on the ballot.
Upcoming Deadlines:
- February 17, 2026: Boards of elections must certify the validity and sufficiency of partisan candidates’ petitions. The Secretary of State must certify partisan candidates for the May 5 primary election.
- February 23, 2026: Write-in candidates for the May 5 primary election must file declarations of intent.
- February 24, 2026: Form of official ballots for the May 5 primary election must be certified by Secretary of State to boards of elections.
