ASHLAND — There are six days left to file for candidacy for open seats in the city of Ashland and only two people have officially filed petitions, according to Ashland County Board of Elections records.
The following seats are up for election this year:
- Mayor
- 2nd Ward council
- 3rd Ward council
- 4th Ward council
As of Tuesday morning, only Ashland Mayor Matt Miller and councilwoman Angela Woodward have filed for re-election.
The others — Dennis Miller and Jason Chio — have yet to file. They have until Feb. 5.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller filed for his candidacy on Jan. 17. If elected this November, he will begin his third term. He was first elected in 2017. He ran unopposed in 2021.
Woodward & possible challenger?
Board of elections documents show Woodward is the only council person who has officially filed for re-election. She did so on Jan. 23.
The 4th ward councilwoman was first appointed to the seat in April 2019 following former councilman Al Farnam’s unexpected death.
She filled the remainder of her predecessor’s term and ran unopposed in 2021.
She faces a possible challenger for the seat in Zachery Casler. County board of elections records show he pulled petition papers for the seat in July 2024. He has not, however, filed those petitions.
Casler, when reached by phone, said he still planned to file. Becoming a candidate requires gathering signatures and filing them with the Ashland County Board of Elections by Feb. 5.
Shannon Johnson, the board of elections’ deputy director, said Cassler needs five signatures.
Casler said his priority will focus on attracting affordable housing options in the city.
“Especially here in the fourth (ward),” he said. “
The fourth ward includes much of the city’s north end — most neighborhoods north of Sandusky Street, Main Street and Cleveland Avenue.
Miller & Chio
Miller, the city’s 3rd ward councilman, pulled petition papers. He has not officially filed.
Miller was first elected to council in 2017. He then ran opposed in 2021, defeating challenger Emily Huestis by 11 percentage points.
Chio, the city’s 2nd ward councilman, pulled petition papers but has yet to officially file.
City voters first elected Chio in 2021. He replaced longtime councilman Bob Valentine and defeated a challenger, Heather Sample, by 40 percentage points.
Non-partisan elections
The Ashland County Board of Elections has no record of other people running for these seats.
The board will meet on Feb. 10 to certify the primary ballot, which will include candidates, questions and issues for the entire county.
Elected offices in the city of Ashland are nonpartisan, which means the rules governing elections are slightly different than partisan races.
For example, if Woodward and Cassler are the only people vying for the 4th Ward seat, they will automatically advance to the November election.
If more than two people run for the seat, however, only the two top vote getters in the May primary will advance to the November election, said Shannon Johnson, the deputy director of the county board of elections.
“We’re hoping we get a little more interest in filing for these seats,” she said.
She encouraged anyone interested in calling the office for more information. The number is 419-282-4224.
The deadline to file is Feb. 5.
The paperwork necessary to run for public office in Ashland is only available at the Ashland County Board of Elections at 110 Cottage St.