Mayor, City Council races coming in May

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Several Van Wert officials are seeking to play political musical chairs — moving from one elected position to another — with the upcoming May primary election, according to petitions filed with the Van Wert County Election Board.

Both of the Republican primary candidates for Van Wert mayor, Council President Ken Mengerink and Third Ward Councilman Jerry Mazur, would be moving from currently held positions if elected to succeed current Mayor Don Farmer.

Farmer is also joining four others seeking the Republican nomination for the three Van Wert City Council at-large seats. Others filing for the position include incumbent Jon C. Tomlinson and challengers Fred Fisher, Denny Staude and Warren Straley.

Current Councilman At-Large Stan Agler is seeking a move to council president to replace Mengerink, as is former councilman Pete Weir.

Former mayor Louis Ehmer is also vying with incumbent Fourth Ward Councilman Steve Trittschuh for that position, while the other city officials filing positions, which include City Auditor Martha Balyeat, City Law Director John Hatcher, First Ward Councilman John Marshall and Second Ward Councilman Joi Mergy, are running unopposed for those positions.

Kenneth Markward, a former member and president of the Van Wert City Board of Education, is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for Mazur’s Third Ward Council seat.

The only ballot issue on the May primary is an income tax renewal being sought by Parkway Local Schools. Moreover, that levy only affects voters in the southern portion of the county who reside in that school district.