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The end of the Jefferson County Fair, which is concluding its 152nd season this weekend, brings with it some realities.
First, it means that the end of summer is not that far off. Second, it's a sure sign that it's time for the kids to return to school. And third, it marks the unofficial start of the area's election season.
With the run-up to the Nov. 7 general election already under way, residents of many communities across the region will have some interesting races to decide.
In Steubenville, for instance, residents in the First and Fifth wards will find contested races on their ballots. Incumbent Democrat Councilwoman Asantewa Anyabwile is being challenged for her seat by Republican David L. Albaugh in the First Ward, while Ted Gorman and Republican Larry Gerber will battle for the Fifth Ward seat currently held by Willie Paul. Term limits keep Paul from running to keep his seat.
They also keep incumbent Republican Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn from running for her seat. She will be replaced by Republican Mark Materniak, who was the only candidate to file for the post. Republican Heather Hoover is the only candidate who filed to represent the Third Ward. Hoover has held the seat since January, when she was appointed to replace Eric Timmons, who was elected to a seat on the Jefferson County commissioners last November.
Both of the contested ward races should prove interesting to follow in the weeks ahead. They are representative of what voters from all parts of the county can expect to see on their ballots, with city, village, township and school board officials all up for election.
In Toronto, for instance, council seats in the First, Second, Third and Fourth wards are on the ballot, but only one of those races -- in the First Ward -- is contested, and will feature Maureen Howard taking on Clark Crago.
There's interest in the mayor's position in several villages, including contested races in Irondale (William Allen vs. Timothy Sechrist), Rayland (Ryan Kourim vs. Tammy Morelli), Richmond (Leonard J. Orwick vs. Ruth Ann Blackburn) and Tiltonsville (Kelly J. Klubert vs. Jason Staskey.)
Maybe the most interesting races, however, will happen in Mingo Junction -- where there are three candidates for mayor (Judy L. Ruckman, Patrick F. Murphy and write-in Mark Baker); two candidates for clerk (Jay Fabian and Joseph L. Mannarino Jr.) and five candidates for the four open spots on Village Council (Jack Brettell, Patricia Cramblett, Jodilynn Fitzgerald, Patti Mannarino and Douglas E. Smith.)
Townships around the county will be electing trustees and other officials, and seats on school boards around the county will be on the ballot as well.
There also will be several local tax issues on the ballot, depending on where you live. That list includes a replacement tax for the 7 Ranges Fire District; a renewal and increase for Island Creek Township; and an additional tax for the Short Creek Fire District.
Statewide, there will be a ballot initiative to legalize recreational use and retail sales of marijuana in Ohio. And, there will be the proposed reproductive rights constitutional amendment.
As with every election, there are some important dates to remember in advance of Nov. 7. One is Oct 10 -- that's the deadline to register to vote. Another is Oct. 11 -- that's when early in-person voting begins. And the other is Oct. 26 -- that's the deadline for letters to the editor concerning the November election.
With the two big statewide issues and the many local races on the ballot, it's likely voter turnout will be a little higher than what we have come to expect in a general election held one year out from the next presidential election.
So, while it's tough not to be looking ahead to Nov. 5, 2024, we can't help but remember that in addition to all of the seats in the House of Representatives, Ohioans will have the chance to cast a vote for senator -- longtime incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown already is bracing for what is expected to be a bruising fight against the Republican nominee who emerges from a growing field that already includes state Sen. Matt Dolan, whose family owns the Cleveland Guardians; Bernie Moreno, who is a Cleveland-area car dealer; and Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
The seat will attract a lot of attention from the rest of the country, as it could play a significant role in determining the balance of power in the Senate. And it comes on the heels of the hard-fought 2022 election, when Republican J.D. Vance defeated Democrat Tim Ryan in their battle to replace the retired Rob Portman.
That GOP race took an interesting turn Wednesday, when LaRose fired Rob Nichols, his press secretary and a longtime Republican operative.
The move came after posts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that were critical of Donald Trump were uncovered. According to The Associated Press, in one tweet, Nichols is quoted replying to a Trump supporter: "it's been an incredible indictments race to the bottom for your guys and hunter biden … the daytona 500 of felonies and misdemeanors."
And yes, we will be electing a next president next year. There's a lot of ground to be covered in the next 14 months or so, and it's likely we'll see many more twists and turns along the way.
But first things first. There are many local offices that must be decided this November.
The women and men who we elect are the people who will be making the decisions that affect us closest to home -- they will decide how our townships, villages and cities will be run. They will be the people who have to make the tough choices about how the tax dollars we pay for schools will be spent. They will have to choose which roads get paved and whether water and sewer rates will have to be raised.
This year's general election will be important on many levels -- don't miss your chance to get involved.
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)