Election analysis gives results by precinct

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A precinct-by-precinct look at the two Van Wert County races decided in last week’s primary election provides a detailed analysis of voter support for each candidate.

The two races were significantly different in outcome, with incumbent Commissioner Todd Wolfrum easily defeating challenger Staci Kaufman, 4,395 to 2,357, and challenger Eva Yarger narrowly defeating incumbent County Prosecutor Charles Kennedy, 3,380 to 3,313, with all votes counted. All election results are unofficial until officially certified by the Van Wert County Board of Elections on Wednesday, March 30.

In the Wolfrum-Kaufman race, the incumbent commissioner had nearly countywide support, winning 38 of the county’s 39 precincts, some by substantial margins. The Vantage Career Center superintendent won just one precinct, Delphos 3C, by three votes, 42-39.

The Yarger-Kennedy contest was much closer, with the final count showing Yarger with a plurality of just 67 votes, 3,380-3,313.

Of the county’s 39 precincts, Yarger won 24, while Kennedy took 14 precincts, with the 39th precinct, Van Wert 2B, tied at 61 votes apiece.

Generally, Yarger’s strength was in the city of Van Wert, while both candidates were fairly even in the county’s rural areas, and Kennedy was strongest in the five Delphos precincts in Van Wert County.

Of Van Wert city’s 15 precincts, Kennedy won just three — Van Wert 2A, Van Wert 3C, and Van Wert 4B. Yarger won 12 of the city precincts, with 2C a tie.

Of the five Delphos city precincts in Van Wert County, Kennedy won four of those, while Yarger won one: Delphos 3C.

Of the 19 rural precincts, Yarger took 11: Hoaglin, Jackson, Jennings, Washington East and West, York, Tully, and Union townships, and Pleasant Township North.

Kennedy won the remaining eight, including Harrison Township, Ohio City, Liberty Township, Ridge Township, Convoy, Willshire Township, Middle Point, and Wren Township.

Of the 6,693 votes cast in each race, 1,883 were absentee ballots, according to the Van Wert County Board of Elections.