The official filing period for the upcoming county elections concluded Friday with a total of 72 individuals seeking various offices and positions in Clinton County.
The headline race will be for Clinton County Sheriff where four individuals have filed to succeed two-term incumbent Jeff Ward, who must vacate the position due to state law. The four Republicans running for the position are former sheriff Mark Mitchell, Jerrad Blacker, Rich Kelly and Matt Myers.
The Clinton County Council will have a contested race in District 4 as current council president Alan Dunn will be challenged by Bechel Crew. The Clinton County Commissioners will also have a contested race in District 3 as incumbent Republican Scott Shoemaker faces Republican Richelle Lutz.
Two other races, Auditor and County Clerk have one individual running in each race to fill positions of people who are leaving the position. Britt Ostler filed for Auditor and Rhea Copas filed for County Clerk. They are seeking to replace Cathy Hamilton and Sherri Crews, respectively, for those positions.
Other incumbents who filed are Tony Sommer (Prosecutor), Dana Myers (Assessor), Jake Myers (Clinton County Council District 2) and Ron Gascho (Clinton County Council District 3).
Newcomer Jon Hussey has filed for the County Council District 1 seat that is being vacated by Mitchell.
All others who have filed are running for township advisory boards and trustee positions. They include:
Center Township Trustee — Kevin Evans.
Center Township Board — Zach Light, Jada Ray, Jami Pratt.
Forest Township Advisory Board — Michael Sexton, Marla Caldwell, Irma Sanders, Mike Strange.
Forest Township Board — Jerry Milner, Kortney Flickinger.
Forest Township Trustee — Brenda Robertson.
Jackson Township Advisory Board — James Mennen, Robert Moore, Neal Clark.
Jackson Township Trustee – Fran Reagan.
Johnson Township Board — Travis Kramer.
Johnson Township Trustee — Thomas Marshall.
Kirklin Township Board Member — Linda Harris.
Kirklin Township Township Advisory Board — Roger McClain, John Grice.
Kirklin Township Trustee — Darrin Lafferty.
Madison Township Advisory Board — John Meyer, Daniel Lahrman, S. Troy Clark.
Madison Township Trustee — Andrea Huber, Michael Boesch.
Michigantown Township Advisory Board — Tim Wyrick, Jeffrey Strong.
Michigantown Trustee — Nick Bales, Patricia McQuinn.
Owen Township Advisory Board — Lewis Flohr, James Unger, Craig Michael.
Owen Township Trustee — Cory Klinedinst.
Perry Township Advisory Board — Andrew Bailey, Jamey Chaney, Phil Ramsey.
Perry Township Trustee — Constance Blacker, Scott Kimmel.
Ross Township Advisory Board — Gary Gangwer, Michael Gochenour, Gail Deboy.
Ross Township Trustee — James Harris, Phillip Andrew.
State Convention Delegate — Davis Riggs.
Sugar Creek Advisory Board — Mark Butcher.
Sugar Creek Township Trustee — John Bonecutter, Matthew Johnson.
Union Township Advisory Board — Jerry Ostler, Paul Dorsey, David Little.
Union Township Trustee — Larry Laughner.
Warren Township Advisory Board — Phillip Carter.
Washington Township Advisory Board — Jim Knapp.
Washington Township Board — Mark Newhart, Bill Fultz.
Washington Township Trustee — Jeff Sigler.
The Primary Election is set for Tuesday, May 8, and the General Election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 6.