Greene County voters face choices for commission, prosecutor, more

The Greene County Board of Commissioners meet on Thursday, December 19, 2019. Two of the seats are up for re-election in 2020. STAFF PHOTO / SARAH FRANKS

The Greene County Board of Commissioners meet on Thursday, December 19, 2019. Two of the seats are up for re-election in 2020. STAFF PHOTO / SARAH FRANKS

Voters will have choices to make in March’s primary election with contested races for Greene County commissioner, prosecutor, coroner and clerk of courts.

Greene County Board of Elections officials confirmed Thursday the list of those candidates who met the Wednesday filing deadline. Petitions for those candidates will be reviewed and the board will certify a final list by Monday.

Any candidate who did not make the deadline to file a petition can still register as a write-in candidate anytime before the Jan. 6 deadline, according to the board.

County commission

The seats held now by Commissioner Tom Koogler and Commissioner Bob Glaser are up for re-election. Glaser said he will retire after this term to spend more time with his grandchildren.

Related: Greene County leaders ask commissioner to return emergency radios

Koogler, Republican from Bellbrook, will run uncontested for re-election, both in the primary and in the general election.

One Democrat, Colin Morrow from Fairborn, has filed to run for Glaser’s seat. Morrow will face a November challenge against the Republican winner from March in a race that features State Rep. Rick Perales against Ron Geyer of Xenia and Beavercreek Twp. Trustee Debborah Wallace for the spot.

In November, Perales confirmed he wanted to return to local politics. Perales, a former county commissioner and Beavercreek mayor, is serving his fourth and final term in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing District 73. Perales said his priorities will be supporting local municipalities, supporting water and sewer infrastructure as the county continues to grow, and talking to constituents to find out what their concerns are.

Related: Greene County state Rep. Perales to run for county commissioner

Wallace, who was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018, said she decided to run for commissioner for several reasons.

“I believe the voices of the villages, townships and cities in Greene County are not being heard,” Wallace said. “I feel these communities, as well as business in Greene County, have points of view that need to be considered in the decision process. In both the City of Beavercreek and Beavercreek Township I emphasized the need of shared services among communities.”

Geyer has owned and operated Geyer’s Office Supply in Xenia for 45 years. He ran for the commission four years ago and said he is running again to bring strong moral values and integrity to the board.

Prosecutor

The decision will be made in March as to who will be the next Greene County prosecutor as two Republicans face off for the seat. No Democrat filed.

A day after Greene County Prosecutor Stephen Haller announced he won’t seek re-election next year, his former assistant prosecutor, Alice DeWine, announced she is running for the office. She will be challenged by Greene County Assistant Prosecutor David Hayes.

Related: Day after Haller withdraws, DeWine announces bid for Greene prosecutor’s job

DeWine, daughter of Gov. Mike DeWine, said she will push to create a county-wide drug court “that allows us to properly focus our resources between serious crimes and other offenses.

Hayes said in a video announcing his candidacy that he is running to give Republican primary voters a choice.

“That is especially true when there is an open seat for such an important position. … No one should be handed a position of public trust without a serious conversation about their qualifications. This is an election. It is not a coronation. I am running because I am more qualified than my opponent.”

Coroner

A Democrat is challenging current Greene County Coroner Kevin Sharrett, a Republican, meaning the seat will be decided in November.

In 2018, Steve Bujenovic ran for a county commission seat and lost to Commissioner Dick Gould. This year he will run against the incumbent for county coroner.

Clerk of Courts

Republican Beavercreek Twp. Trustee Christy Ahrens will challenge incumbent AJ Williams for clerk of courts. The seat will be decided in the primary, as no Democrats have filed for the seat.

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