Ehmer to replace Hamrick on Nov. ballot

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

It took some last minute scrambling, but local Republicans were able to replace a Van Wert City Council candidate who decided not to run just days before names were needed for the November 8 general election ballot.

Van Wert County Republican Central Committee Chair Martin Burchfield said Friday that a decision by Paul Hamrick on Thursday afternoon not to run for one of three at-large City Council seats left Republicans one candidate short with ballot names needed by Monday.

Burchfield did some quick checking and got a commitment from current Van Wert Mayor Louis Ehmer to replace Hamrick on the November ballot. A meeting of the GOP Central Committee scheduled for Thursday evening to appoint someone to fill the unexpired term of County Recorder Jan McIntosh, who retired at the end of July, was asked to do double-duty, with committee members also approving Ehmer’s candidacy for an at-large City Council seat.

The decision allows local Republicans to have a candidate for all three at-large Council seats, with former councilman Brent Crone and current Fourth Ward Councilman Stan Agler also running for at-large seats. Democrat Jeff Agler is also a candidate for one of the three at-large City Council positions.

If elected, Ehmer would remain a city official — something that appeared unlikely even a week ago, following his defeat in the May primary election by At-Large City Councilman Don Farmer. His position as mayor will end when his current term expires in December.

The only other city race in November is the one between incumbent Law Director Greg Unterbrink, a Democrat, and Republican challenger John Hatcher, although there are a number of village, township and school board races on the ballot.

In addition, voters will also decide three state issues, two replacement tax levies for the Van Wert County Council on Aging and a number of school, village and township tax issues.