In municipal and county races, Democrat incumbent Erica Crawley maintained a 26 percent lead against Republican challenger Luis Gil for Franklin county commissioner.
Democrat Patrick Kelly for Cuyahoga County Council has a 15.04 percent lead against GOP candidate Nan Baker.
Democrat Brigid Kelly took a narrow 5.32 percent lead over Republican Tom Brinkman Jr. for Hamilton County auditor.
Columbus residents had the opportunity to approve five bond issues allowing the city to invest $1.5 billion in neighborhood infrastructure and services to improve our quality of life. The issues will not increase property taxes or impose any new tax, according to the City of Columbus.
Columbus voters overwhelmingly supported these bond issues 14-18 supporting health, safety and infrastructure, recreation and parks, neighborhood development, public service, and public utilities. The bond issues ranged from 62 percent to 72 percent in support.
Columbus residents also voted on approval for three charter amendments. Issues 19, 20, and 21 were also widely supported with 76 percent of voters in favor across the board for all three amendments.
These amendments covered a broad spectrum of topics such as preventing special interest groups from placing an issue on the ballot without disclosing who will benefit financially and how much money they will receive within the first three years, pertaining to employees of the mayor and civil service, including providing for the use of no more than three bands for each competitive eligible list of applicants, rather than no fewer than three bands; removing the current employee resident requirement; removing outdated language, updating probationary rules, and allowing the city to hold meetings virtually, in limited circumstances as determined by the ordinance of the City Council.
Columbus residents also had the opportunity to vote on one levy measure.
78 percent of voters voted in support of Issue 10 renewing taxes to support senior citizens.
Cincinnati residents voted on five issues on their midterm ballot.
Issues 11,3,8,9, and 10 were all supported by voters on Election Day. Support ranged from 63 percent to 80 percent from Hamilton County voters. The issues on the ballot addressed topics such as requiring the mayor to assign a legislative matter to the appropriate committee, emergency funding for the Cincinnati City School District, provision of health and hospital services, support for alcohol and drug addiction as well as for mental health services and programs, and for the support of senior citizens.
Cleveland residents voted on two proposed tax levies on their ballot.
Both Issues 5 and 6 were overwhelmingly supported by voters. Issue 5, providing funding for the Cleveland Metropolitan Parks District, received 80.13 percent support, and Issue 6, providing funding for the Cleveland- Cuyahoga County Port Authority, received 74.47 percent of voter support.
Toledo residents voted on three tax levies and one charter amendment.
Issues 7, 10, and 11 were all supported by Lucas County voters, with 76.72 in favor of renewing the land operation and conservative tax measure, 67.12 percent in favor of renewing the Imagination Station Tax Measure, and 78.48 percent in support of renewing the Toledo Lucas County Public Library measure.
Lastly, 53.24 percent of voters supported amending the Charter of the City of Toledo, Issue 21, as set forth in ordinance 386-22.
County boards of elections are adding unofficial results for municipal and county offices and local issues on their websites.
According to the Ohio secretary of state, results are unofficial until they have been reviewed and certified once the official canvass has been completed by November 29.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
