Early count leaves many contests in doubt

Rose Lengel shakes hands with Oregon City Council candidate Matt Szollosi, while council candidate Paul Lembrecht, left, and municipal judge candidate Jeff Keller, right, look on.

With Lucas County votes totals only trickling in - some votes were still being brought in to be counted at 11 p.m. - many city and village council races across the county were too close to call late last night.

Oregon voters were voting on all seven council seats in a race that pitted six incumbents against five challengers.

Maumee City Council will have at least one new face when voters choose four people from six candidates - half of whom are incumbents.

Sylvania had five candidates running for three city council seats, including three incumbents seeking re-election. Waterville Village Council had three seats up for grabs, with all three incumbents seeking re-election against 19-year-old challenger Derek Merrin.

Results for council races in other northwest Ohio counties were coming in much faster.

Rossford voters returned incumbents James Richards, Richard Kovach, and Caroline Zuchowski-Eckel to city council, as well as newcomer Leonard Michaels.

Northwood City Council had four incumbents running against one challenger. Final votes totals were not available last night.

Grand Rapids Village Council voters returned incumbents John Berry, Louise Estep, and Pam Sherwood to the council, and added newcomer Carolyn Erdody.

Millbury voters elected challengers Randal Readel and Christopher Abbey to village council, and incumbent Chalence Wilburn II lost by just three votes.

Voters also elected incumbents Fred Densic and Michael Weis.

Elsewhere in Wood County, Pemberville Village Council voters re-elected incumbent Patricia Vandersall and elected challengers Eric Campbell, Keith Madaras, and Marc Mullholand.

Five challengers were facing four incumbents for Genoa Village Council, with incumbents Elizabeth Slotnick and Doug Avery winning, as well as challengers Jennifer Kreager and Mark Williams.

In the Elmore Village Council race, incumbents Rick Claar, Matt Damschroder, Robert Eickel, and Mark Koenig won.

In Sandusky County, voters in Woodville were to choose between five candidates for four open village council seats. Challenger Ty Tracy, who is seeking his first term on council, was running against incumbents Gerald Kepus, Monte Porter, Joseph Riffle, and Jeffery Tate. Totals were not available last night.

Contact Luke Shockman at:

lshockman@theblade.com

or 419-724-6084.