Herringshaw takes Wood Co. commissioner race

Miller wins auditor primary in Sandusky Co.

5/7/2014

BOWLING GREEN — Wood County Commissioner Doris Herringshaw soundly defeated two challengers in the Republican primary.

Ms. Herringshaw, 64, of Liberty Township will face Democrat Andrew Newlove, a Bowling Green broker with Newlove Realty, in November’s general election.

She beat Republicans Jim Matuszak, 49, of Perrysburg and Kristi Kennelly, 46, of Perrysburg Township in Tuesday’s primary election, during which voters also picked winners in contested races in Sandusky and Seneca counties.

Ms. Herringshaw, a retired county extension agent, was appointed commissioner last year after Tim Brown was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives.

She garnered endorsement from the county GOP party’s executive and central committees in the race against Mr. Matuszak, a Perrysburg councilman and certified public accountant, and Ms. Kennelly, an administrator at a private business college.

Several components contributed to her successful campaign, Ms. Herringshaw said, including the time she’s already spent in office and the party endorsement.

“I am really the incumbent … so I have some knowledge of what’s going on and what’s happening and that also gives me the opportunity to meet a lot of people,” she said.

Now, she’ll turn her focus to the general election. At the forefront are jobs, economic development, infrastructure, “and keeping taxes low,” she said.

In Sandusky County, Jerri Miller, 53, executive director of the Sandusky County Convention and Visitors Bureau, defeated county administrator Warren Brown, 58, in the Republican primary for auditor. Mr. Brown would have taken a pay cut for the job.

“I think it was my qualifications. I have the CPA. I’ve got the accounting experience,” Ms. Miller said.

There is no Democratic candidate seeking the auditor post.

Auditor William Farrell is retiring.

As auditor, Ms. Miller plans to sit down with the employees to get a handle on the office’s operations.

“I want to see what’s working and what’s not,” she said.

Sandusky County Juvenile and Probate Courts Judge Brad Smith trumped Brad Culbert in the Republican primary to retain his position. No Democrats filed in that race, either.

Seneca County Republican voters chose Mike Kerschner of Tiffin over Philip Frankart of New Riegel in the primary race for county commissioner.

No Democrats sought the seat, though former commissioner Dave Sauber filed his petition Monday to run as an independent in the general election.

The spot is currently held by Commissioner Jeff Wagner, who is not seeking re-election.

Contact Vanessa McCray at: vmccray@theblade.com or 419-724-6065, or on Twitter @vanmccray.