With the Jefferson County Fair wrapping up this weekend and area schools scheduled to open for the coming year during the next week or so comes the annual realization that the fall campaign season is just around the corner.

This year’s election will not have the interest that the 2024 vote had or the 2026 vote likely will have, but, in may ways, it is even more important.

That’s because it’s an off-year election where many of the available positions are those that have the greatest impact on our day-to-day lives. According to the Jefferson County Board of Elections, each of the villages in the county will be electing four members of council, and each township will be electing two of its three trustees on Nov. 4.

Three members of each of the county’s school boards and the Jefferson County Educational Service Center will be up for election, with the exception of Indian Creek, which has only two seats on the ballot.

Residents of Steubenville likely will have the most detailed ballot when they cast their votes in the Nov. 4 election. They are being asked to approve several changes to the city charter.

Going through the document, which was first approved in 1984, and looking for ways to make it reflect current realities required a lot of patience on the part of the nine-member panel of city residents who have spent months on the task. It’s an exercise the city goes through every 10 years.

Each member of City Council had the opportunity to choose a member of the commission, which was chaired by former Councilman Willie Paul. It included Mary Vandine (First Ward), Jeffrey Hawkins (Second Ward), Donald Maternack (Third Ward), Sheila Hendricks (Fourth Ward), Jim Baber (Fifth Ward), Dave Mosti (Sixth Ward) and Ross Ivkovich (council at large), as well as Paul and attorney Frank Bruzzese, the mayor’s picks.

Their work has laid a good framework for the city to build on. Now, it will be up to city residents to decide whether those proposals go forward.

All voters in Steubenville will have the chance to be heard on the proposals, and they also will have a hand in choosing the next mayor. Republican Ralph A. Petrella advanced to the general election after a primary win, and, while the Democrats won’t have a candidate on the ballot, voters will have the chance to write in Chuck Burch.

Residents in the Fourth Ward will find a contested race for council. Incumbent Democrat Royal Mayo is being challenged by Republican Marc Barnes.

Incumbent Republican Tracy McManamon is unopposed in the Second Ward, as is Republican Jennifer Terpenning in the Sixth Ward.

Incumbent Municipal Court Judge John J. Mascio is unopposed.

Voters in several other areas will be able to choose from several candidates for seats in other races. In Toronto, for instance, four candidates are listed for the three council at large seats — Michael T. Burkey, Lawrence C. Glenn, Ron Holmes and Gregory Thornberry, a write-in.

In Empire, seven candidates are listed for the four council spots — Justin D. Adkins, Cindy S. Lockhart, Scott O. Lockhart, Tyler O. Lockhart, Gerald Keith Matthews. Belinda Stock and Randy L Westbrook Jr. Irondale, meanwhile, lists five candidates for the four council spots — James A. Christy, Charles T. Hoobler Jr., Cynthia Sechrist, Jason S. Smith and Robin L. Smith.

Mingo Junction has four candidates for two council positions –Mark Baker, Christopher Horner, Adam Peeler and write-in William R. Andress Jr. There are six candidates for the four seats on Rayland council — Emily J. Beck, Evelyn A. Burley, Jim Doughty, Andrea Jenkins, Brenda L. Staats and Dawn Wharton.

In Richmond, five candidates are seeking four council seats: Buck Banovsky, Ruth Ann Blackburn, Eric D. Long, Charles Miro and Robert W. Stewart Jr. Five candidates are running for four seats on Tiltonsville council, including Phillip Bunting, Kelly J. Klubert, Kimberly Malechowski. Janet L. Scott and Brandon Staats.

Five candidates are seeking the four seats open on Wintersville council: Carmen DeStefano, Rich Gunther, Jason Mattern, Bob Merriman and Randy Spence. Running for the four seats on Yorkville council are Doug DelVecchio, Cindy Norman, Bill Reasbeck, David Spong and Robert Zitzelberger.

Voters will have choices in eight of the township trustee races — there are three candidates for the two openings in Cross Creek, Island Creek, Knox, Steubenville, Warren and Wells townships, and four candidates for the two openings in Saline and Wayne townships.

Residents of the Indian Creek Local School District will see three candidates — Daniel Bove Jr., Rachel Gilman and Brianne Schoolcraft — running for the two open seats.

There are numerous issues on the ballot, as well. Everyone in Jefferson County will get the chance to vote on the renewal of the 1-mill, five-year property tax levy that helps cover current expenses of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.

There are property tax renewals in Adena, Dillonvale, Irondale, Mingo Junction, Yorkville, Cross Creek Township, Knox Township, Wells Township, the Indian Creek Local School District and the Toronto City School District.

Bergholz and Knox Township voters will see a replacement and increase levy on their ballots.

And residents in of Precinct 2 in Steubenville’s Sixth Ward will have the chance to vote on a local option for the Sunday sale of Alcohol.

Before you can vote, you have to be registered, and you have until 9 p.m. on Oct. 6 to accomplish that. Early voting will begin Oct. 7, and will run through 5 p.m. Nov. 2. There will be no early voting on Nov. 3, the day before the election.

It is easy to get caught up in the discussion about the 2026 election. Ohioans, for instance, will be selecting a new governor. Right now, it looks like Vivek Ramaswamy will be the only contender for the Republican nomination. The Democrat side got a lot more interesting on Wednesday, when is was revealed that former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is considering seeking the party’s nomination. Currently, Dr. Amy Acton, who served as Ohio’s health director during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the only announced Democrat in the race.

The race for the Senate seat held by Republican Jon Husted got interesting last week, when reports indicated that former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, planned to mount a challenge for the seat.

That’s all happening in 2026, and those races alone likely will draw a lot attention, not just in Ohio, but around the country. For now, though, local residents have the chance to vote on the candidates and the issues that will have the greatest impacts on their lives. Make sure you are a part of the process — learn about the candidates and issues and make sure you vote.

(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times)