Lawrence County Election Board officials logged 13 more candidate petitions and two levy petitions as of Monday.

Wednesday, August 11, 1999

Lawrence County Election Board officials logged 13 more candidate petitions and two levy petitions as of Monday.

The number of filers is still less than expected, but will likely increase as the Aug. 19 deadline approaches, board deputy director Ella Lawless said.

One of the key races this fall could be the battle for four Ironton Board of Education seats. Three terms are up and a fourth is unexpired, meaning two separate races.

One filer, Charles Ray Townsend of Ironton, has presented a petition at the election board office. He is the first to file.

Monday, two other residents picked up petitions, Ms. Lawless said.

Also expected to be interesting are the Ironton and Chesapeake mayoral races and the Ironton City Council race.

Those filing for election, and positions sought, include:

– Arthur Suiter, Chesapeake-Exempted Village Board of Education member.

– Gilbert Owens, Symmes Township trustee.

– William Gaskin, South Point mayor.

– Scott Thomas, South Point clerk.

– Bill Goff, Hamilton Township trustee.

– Greg Crabtree, Fairland Board of Education member.

– Terry Barker, Rock Hill Board of Education member.

– Fred L. Clay, South Point Board of Education member.

– Jon P. Collier, Lawrence Township trustee.

– Richa Shepherd, Mason Township clerk-treasurer.

– Kay Bentley Swartzwelder, Dawson-Bryant Board of Education member.

– Tony Lee Hopper, Hamilton Township clerk-treasurer.

Two levy petitions were filed:

– Lawrence County Joint Vocational School, renewal of five-year, 1/2-mill tax.

– Village of Chesapeake, additional 1 1/2-mill, five-year fire levy.

To file for election, hopeful trustees, school board members, clerks, mayors and council members must pick up petitions for office at the election board.

The number of signatures of registered voters each candidate must get on a petition varies by race, Ms. Lawless said.

For elections in villages under 2,000 population, petitions must bear at least 10 and no more than 30 signatures from voters in that district.

For school board and trustee races, and all other villages except the City of Ironton, petitioners must have at least 25 and no more than 75 voter signatures.

In Ironton, hopefuls seeking a council seat must file with at least 50 signatures and no more than 100 signatures as set out in the city charter, Ms. Lawless said.

The Ironton mayor’s race requires at least 300 and no more than 400 signatures.