VW Council races, issues on May ballot

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Three Van Wert City Council races are on the May primary election ballot, as well as two city tax issues, according to petitions filed with the Van Wert County Board of Elections.

Four Republicans are seeking three at-large City Council seats in May. Those include current At-Large Councilmen Stan Agler and Brent Crone, as well as former Council members Jon Tomlinson and Kirby Kelly. The three Republicans with the highest vote total in May would then vie with Democrat Jeff Agler in November for an at-large seat on City Council.

Also, for the first time in several years, the top City Council position is also being contested. With the decision by Council President Gary Corcoran not to seek re-election, two Republicans have filed petitions for that position.

Council president candidates include current Fourth Ward Councilman Pete Weir, who is just completing his first term on Council, and former City Councilman and Van Wert City Board of Education member Ken Mengerink. Mengerink served eight years on City Council and 20 years on the city school board, 14 of those as board president. He also served 12 years on the Vantage Board of Education, including eight years as board president.

One other City Council race is also on the May ballot. In the Third Ward, incumbent Stuart Jewett, a Republican, is opposed by local resident Jerry Mazur.

One other City Council race will occur in November. The Fourth Ward seat, being vacated by Weir in his run for Council president, will be contested by Republican Steve Trittschuh and Democrat Jim Hamman.

Two Council incumbents, First Ward Councilman John Marshall and Second Ward Councilman Joi Mergy are running unopposed, as is Don Hangartner, who is seeking the city treasurer’s position.

Issues on the ballot include a 1.2-mill, 25-year tax issue that would raise up to $3 million to construct an aquatic center in Van Wert.

Van Wert City Schools is also seeking to make its 1-percent income tax levy, which now renews every five years, into a continuing levy. School district voters will decide that issue, while other issues to be voted on by a portion of Van Wert County voters include a renewal of Delphos Public Library’s 0.6-mill current expenses levy and a bond issue for Apollo Career Center.