Holmes County voters approve most local levies in Nov. 4 election

Levies did fairly well Tuesday, Nov. 4, in elections around Holmes County. With no huge issues on the board, townships for the most part supported the issues.

Countywide, though, a proposed additional tax levy for the Council on Aging — senior services was beaten 2,189-1714, or 56-44 percent.

A proposed renewal tax levy for Holmes Fire District #1 for fire and EMS passed with 67% of 1,601 voters supporting it. 

Three marijuana-related issues in Millersburg did not pass as voters rejected an advisory election (nonbinding) for a cultivator 389-208, a processor 384-204 and a dispensary 381-209.

The people of the Village of Killbuck were more generous, passing a levy for current expenses 95-66.

In Killbuck Township, a fire and EMS levy passed with 63 percent of 408 votes going in favor, while 62 percent of 246 voters were against their road levy.

In Mechanic Township, 58 percent of 291 votes went in favor of their road levy.

In Monroe Township, 65 percent of 349 voters were in favor of their road levy. Nearly 70 percent of 336 voters in Monroe also said yes to one local liquor option and 65 percent of 337 voters approved a Sunday sales local liquor option. These applied to various sales points.

Paint Township saw a road levy pass with 63 percent of 127 votes affirming the issue, while 76 percent went thumbs-down for a local liquor option and 78 percent of 124 said no to Sunday sales.

Richland Township said yes to a Fire and EMS levy, 66 percent of 183 votes going for. Saltcreek Township voted 59-31 to approve a replacement tax levy for current expenses. Finally, Washington Township renewed a road levy 191-100.

Several positions had fewer candidates than vacancies; others had the same number and will now be full.

The following is a look at contested races.

In the race for Hardy Township Trustee, Rodney D. Arnold and Dave Beckman got 607 and 574 votes, respectively, leaving Brett Bowman (353) short.

J. Benjamin Butler and A. Drew Taylor nearly tied in the race for Killbuck Township Trustee, getting 238 and 236 votes, respectively, but both topped Brandon Mackey’s 146 with relative ease.

In a race for three seats on the West Holmes LSD board, Tina Zickefoose (1,703 votes), Ezra Day (1,611) and Hans Ramseyer (1,265) were winners, ahead of Andrew Jones (971).

In one of the few races to have an abundance of candidates, Chad Dial (131 votes) and Larry D. Ogi (120) got the nod for the two openings, with Mike Landair (86) and Sam Burgett (64) falling short.

In one of the most hotly contested races, Randy Ramsey (155 votes) got one Mechanic Township Trustee spot, while Ervin D. Yoder (147) outdueled Lester Yoder (146) by a hair for the other. All three may be subject to a recount.

In Prairie Township, Matt Steiner (178 votes) and Paul Troyer (165) secured trustee spots, with Dale Wolboldt (123) falling short.

In Walnut Creek Township, an extremely tight race saw Eugene Hershberger (122), Al Yoder (119) and Joe Varge (114) finish within eight votes of each other in a battle for two trustee seats.