Unopposed in the March 17 GOP primary are commissioners Dave Young and Shannon Jones, Coroner Russell Uptegrove, Engineer Neil Tunison, Prosecutor David Fornshell, Recorder Linda Oda, Sheriff Larry Sims, Treasurer Barney Wright and judges Robert Peeler and Joe Kirby.
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In the only contested race, Spaeth, a six-term incumbent, will be running for re-election for the first time against Mason City Councilman Michael Gilb, a lawyer and former judge.
Gilb is running with backing from the party’s neoconservative Right to Life branch, while Spaeth’s support is expected to come more from the party’s moderate wing.
“I’m focused on what I can do to promote Republican ideas in Warren County,” Gilb said. “It’s important to have a conservative in that office.”
The only Democrat running for countywide office is Bob Stein, a Pleasant Plain resident, set to challenge Young in November. In this Republican stronghold, the toughest challenges come in occasional primary races, often between candidates from the party’s different branches.
In 2016, tea party leaders were voted from top spots in the Warren County Republican Party, prompting chairman Jeff Monroe to say unity had been restored more than a decade after dissension surfaced during a 2004 party fight over who would be appointed as the next county prosecutor.
Gilb declined to comment on how his race was related to continued inter-party disagreements. Instead he emphasized his view of the clerk’s office.
“I’m not looking to make this a career. I don’t plan to be there 24 years. I don’t plan to be there when I’m 70 years old,” said Gilb, 60.
Spaeth is 70.
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The race was sparked in part by anger at a Facebook post by Spaeth’s brother John blasting local Right to Life leader Lori Viars, Commissioner Tom Grossmann, his wife, Mason Mayor Kathy Grossmann “and their ilk.”
There was also concern Spaeth would pull petitions returned for his sister-in-law, Barbara Berry Spaeth, who left the Mason City Council due to term limits. This tactic was used when former Warren County Treasurer Jim Lefevers’ petitions were returned by his assistant, Jim Aumann, at the filing deadline.
Four years ago, Matt Byrne filed to run against Spaeth in the primary, but withdrew when it was clear the clerk of courts was himself seeking re-election.
“I’m certainly running,“ said Gilb, also a former state lawmaker. “I intend to see it through to March 17th.”
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“Jim has done a good job for the last 24 years. He has talked of retiring in the past,” Gilb said. “The question was certainly out there, who was going to replace him.”
Gilb declined to respond to a question about whether he had spoken personally with Spaeth about retirement plans.
Spaeth said, “I’ve never told anyone I was planning to retire.” He pointed out he filed two months ago.
Gilb’s petitions were filed close to the December deadline.
If elected, Gilb said he wanted Warren County to join other surrounding counties “recognizing the electronic age we are in.”
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Specifically Gilb said the county system needed to allow lawyers to file electronically.
“The bones of the system are in place. The switch for the public hasn’t been turned on yet,” he said.
Spaeth said he continued to work with other court officials to complete set-up of the case management system acquired about five years ago. Some components are in place, while others, including the credit-card payment system required for electronic filing, were still unready for use.
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“We haven’t gotten there yet,” Spaeth said. ” We are taking baby steps. It’s kind of up to the court as well.”
Spaeth indicated he expected the system to be fully enabled later this year.
“It’s going to be a few more months,” he said. “It’s gotta be right for everybody.”
Spaeth said he “would never” resort to the tactics used by Lefevers to keep the clerks office in the family.
“They were scared to death, I was going to pull a Lefevers-Aumann,” he said.
Unlike Gilb, Spaeth said, “I don’t have a law degree to fall back on.”
MORE: Warren County plans $1.5M renovation of court building
In response to suggestions about his son’s letter and family support of Democrats, Spaeth said he refused to tell his family what to do.
“That’s not the way we operate. They are free to do whatever they need to do,” he said.
Indicating they had been friendly, Spaeth expressed disappointment at Gilb’s opposition.
“I would expect a Democrat before someone in my own party,” he said.
Gilb said, “The people have already won. They have a choice.”
GET READY FOR ELECTION DAY
- The deadline to register to vote for the Ohio primary election is Feb. 18.
- Early voting starts on Feb. 19.
- The Ohio primary is set for March 17.
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