The Mount Vernon Nov. 7 ballot includes two statewide ballot initiatives that have been fiercely competitive-- one that will bar the Ohio state legislature from limiting abortion in the state, and another to legalize marijuana-- and two proposed county-wide property tax hikes.
It also includes city elections in which all incumbents-- Mayor Matt Starr, City Council President Bruce Hawkins, City Auditor Terry Scott and City Director of Law Peter Robert Broeren, Jr.-- are all running unopposed, and will return to office.
Same goes for four members of the Mount Vernon City Council, three members of the Mount Vernon City School Board and Mount Vernon Municipal Court Judge John Thatcher. All incumbents face no opposition.
The Nov. 2, 2021 election saw 9,574 ballots cast, or 23 percent voter turnout.
In it, former City Council Member Democrat Julia Warga challenged Amber Keener (1,250 votes), Janis Seavolt (1,336) and Mel Severns (1,324) for one of three available at-large Mount Vernon City Council seat.
Warga, a Kenyon College librarian who recently moved to Cleveland to assume a similar role with John Carroll University, won 976 votes and placed fourth.
The Nov. 5, 2019 election saw 10,451 ballots cast, or 26 percent voter turnout.
In it, Mayor Starr faced opposition from Wayne Link but defeated him, 2,054 votes (84 percent) to 381 votes (16 percent) and 3rd Ward City Council Member Tammy Woods (R) defeated Andrea S. White 561 (64%) to 317 (36%). All other races were unopposed.
Mount Vernon voters have been able to cast early ballots for the Nov. 7 general election since Oct. 11.
Here is a link to a sample ballot for Nov. 6.
Local Elections
Mount Vernon Mayor
Incumbent Matthew T. Starr (R) running unopposed
*Starr was first elected in 2019
Mount Vernon City Council President
Incumbent Bruce E. Hawkins (R) running unopposed
*Hawkins was first elected in 2015
Mount Vernon City Auditor
Terry Scott (R) running unopposed
*Scott last faced opposition in 2007, when he defeated Anton J. Krutsch (D) 1,554 (57%) to 1,170 (43%)
Mount Vernon City Director of Law
Peter Robert Broeren, Jr. (R) running unopposed
*Broeren was first elected in 2015
Mount Vernon City Council Member- At Large
Vote for Three; All candidates running unopposed
Incumbent Amber Keener (R)
Incumbent Janis Seavolt (R)
Incumbent Mel Severns (R)
Mount Vernon City Council Member- 1st Ward (South/Southeast Mount Vernon)
Incumbent James Mahan (R) running unopposed
Mount Vernon Municipal Court
Incumbent John C. Thatcher running unopposed
Mount Vernon City School District
Vote for Three; All candidates running unopposed
Margie Bennett
Jody Goetzman
Tim Workman
Statewide Issues
Issue 1: Amends the state constitution to bar the Ohio State Legislature from enacting laws that limit abortion in any way.
Including:
- Parental Notification Laws: Abortion clinics could not be required by Ohio law to notify parents when performing an abortion on their minor child.
- Late-term abortion mandate: Abortions shall be allowed in Ohio "at any stage of pregnancy," including until the moment of birth.
- Ohio Abortion Taxpayer Funding Requirement: Ohio taxpayers would be required to fund abortions; no law barring abortion funding could be enacted by the legislature.
- Ohio Sex Change Taxpayer Funding Requirement: Ohio taxpayers would be required to fund sex change/mutilation surgeries by residents who desired them, including children.
Issue 2: Legalize marijuana in Ohio
Including:
- Allowing the "cultivation, processing, sale, purchase, possession, home grow and use" of marijuana by adults, at least 21 years of age.
- Create a "social equity" program that requires the State of Ohio to provide "preferential treatment and favor non-white males in approving marijuana-related business licenses.
- Blocking the public from seeing the identity of individuals applying for marijuana-related business licenses.
- Require the State of Ohio to create a taxpayer-funded marijuana "addiction services" program for Ohioans who use too much legal marijuana.
- Earmark 61 percent of state taxes on marijuana sales to pay for the marijuana "social equity and jobs" program, funding marijuana jobs for non-whites, and state addiction services programs for marijuana addicts. The other 39 percent goes to the local governments for communities where the marijuana stores are located, to fund additional police services.
Local Tax Levies
Proposed tax increase for Knox County Career Center
The Knox County Joint Vocational School District, also known as the Knox County Career Center, is asking for a county-wide property tax increase of $53 per every $100,000 of appraised value, or an additional $2.8 million annually.
The tax increase would be in perpetuity, unless repealed.
The KCCC's current budget is $4.8 million; this would amount to a 58 percent budget increase.
If the tax levy receives a majority of votes in favor, the tax increase would take effect in 2024.
Proposed tax increase for Knox County Children Services
Knox County Children Services, which cares for abused and neglected children in the county, is asking for a county-wide property tax increase of $39 per $100,000 of appraised value, or an additional $1.854 million annually.
The tax increase would be in perpetuity, unless repealed.
In May 2021, a smaller proposed tax increase for Knox County Children Services fall by a 2-1 margin, with 2,595 voters (67%) voting against and 1,282 voters voting for it (33%).
If the tax levy receives a majority of votes in favor, the tax increase would take effect in 2025.
Off Year Elections- Total Votes Cast
Of the last eight off-year elections in Knox County, turnout was the lowest in 2021.
Source: Knox County Board of Elections
