Clerk, treasurer first to file for March ballot
11/13/2003The Fulton County clerk of courts and county treasurer were the first two candidates to file for election on the March ballot. But the prosecuting attorney s race is expected to be one of the hottest in the early primary election and several incumbents, including county commissioner Paul Barnaby might face opposition on the Republican ballot.
No Democratic challengers are expected, as is typical in Fulton County where all the major county office holders are Republicans. Mary Gype filed for re-election to a four-year clerk of courts term beginning Jan. 3, 2005. Beverly Schlosser, who was appointed treasurer last month, filed for election to a four-year term beginning Sept. 5, 2005.
Longtime county prosecutor William Swigart is thought to be the only major county office holder who will not run for re-election. He had announced that decision last year.
His assistant Roger Nagel, Wauseon law director Jeff Robinson, and Metamora area attorney Gary Poorman are among the lawyers who have talked publicly about running, but none had filed with the board of elections early this week. The filing deadline for candidates is Jan. 2.
Also on the March 2 ballot will be four-year terms for the commissioner s seats held by Dean Genter and Mr. Barnaby and the same terms for sheriff, engineer, recorder, coroner.
Mr. Barnaby likely faces competition from R.J. Lumbrezer, a Royalton Township trustee, who is circulating a petition to run for Mr. Barnaby s seat, said Sandra Barber, chairman of the Republican Central Committee.
She said Brett Kolb is mulling a run for treasurer and she received a letter from Cheryl Chapa exploring the possibility of running for sheriff. Mr. Kolb was one of four candidates for the treasurer s position when the Republican Central Committee appointed Mrs. Schlosser last month. He manages Kolb & Son “Photo Equip” in Wauseon and is a Clinton Township trustee, county Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board member, and county Republican central committee member. Ms. Chapa, an Archbold police officer and former Liberty Center school board member, was handily defeated by Fulton County Sheriff Darrell Merillat when she ran against him in 2000.
County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Marlene Kurfiss said she has not heard from any potential candidates for the March ballot.