MOUNT VERNON – Some familiar faces are on the ballot for the upcoming May primary in Knox County, plus several tax measures and two related to alcohol sales.
Republicans are the only candidates for Mount Vernon offices on the May 2 primary election ballot.
Matt Starr filed for election to a second four-year term as the city’s mayor.
Auditor Terry Scott and Law Director Peter Robert Broeran Jr. also filed for reelection to their positions. These also are four-year terms that end on Dec. 31, 2027.
Municipal Court Judge John C. Thatcher filed for reelection to another six-year term on the court. The term ends on Jan. 6, 2030.
Mount Vernon City Council President Bruce E. Hawkins also filed for reelection. City Council members serve two-year terms. Their terms end on Dec. 31, 2025.
The city’s three At Large councilmembers – Amber Keener, Janis Seavolt and Mel Severns – filed for reelection.
James Mahan is running unopposed for the First Ward council seat. This will be the first election for Mahan, who was appointed by the Knox Republican Party to fill the First Ward council seat after the resignation of Josh Kirby for health reasons in October 2022.
John P. Ruckman looks to fill the Second Ward council seat being vacated by long-time Councilmember John Francis.
Tammy Woods is on the ballot to retain her Third Ward council seat.
Michael R. Miller could be the second new face on the City Council as he filed for election to the Fourth Ward seat now held by Mike Hillier, who announced his retirement at the end of his current term.
Questions & Issues
Knox County – Continuation of sales and use tax (rate 0.25%, five years, commencing 2023) to operate a 911 system, 2023-2027
Utica Village – Property tax (additional - 5 mills, five years, commencing 2023, first due 2024) for a police department that the county auditor estimates will collect $171,854 annually, $175 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for five years, commencing in 2023, first due in the calendar year 2024.
Northridge School District – Property tax (renewal - 5.5 mills, five years, commencing 2024, first due 2025) the emergency requirements.
Central Ohio Joint Fire District – Property tax (replacement - 5.5, mills, three years, commencing 2023, first due 2024).
Morris Township Fire District – Property tax (replacement - 4 mills, three years, commencing 2023, first due 2024).
Centerburg – Local option (Sunday sale of wine and mixed beverages, on/off-premise sales) SNS Petroleum Inc. dba Centerburg Shell 79 E. Main St., Centerburg.
Fredericktown – Local option (sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor) Fredericktown Event Center, LLC 124 N. Main St., Fredericktown.
Voters head to a single polling place on May 2
All Knox County voters will vote at a single location for the May 2 special election in which Mount Vernon will choose its mayor, with county and local issues on ballots across the county.
The polling place will be the Knox County Board of Elections office, on the first floor of 104 E. Sugar St. in Mount Vernon, for the county’s 53 precincts. Registered voters were sent a postcard notifying them of the change.
Voters can cast an absentee ballot by mail by visiting VoteOhio.gov or by stopping by the Knox County Board of Elections for a ballot. Applications must be received by the Board of Elections no later than 8:30 p.m. on April 25. Completed ballots can be returned by mail, postmarked no later than May 1, or dropped off at the Board of Elections office or in the outside ballot box no later than 7:30 p.m. on May 2.
Early vote early at the Board of Elections office. The early voting period runs from Tuesday, April 4, to Sunday, April 30. Or vote there on election day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voters will return to their regular precinct polling places for the November general election.
