As Licking County voters prepared for early voting, which commenced on April 8, only two candidate races appeared on the ballots. The remaining candidates will advance to the General Election scheduled for November 4.
According to the Licking County Board of Elections website, registered voters across all 96 precincts will encounter the Licking County municipal court clerk race on their Republican primary ballot. Gary Burkholder of Pataskala and Carrier Masterson of Newark are set to compete in this partisan primary race. The victor will challenge James M. Dawson of Granville in the General Election. Although Dawson is a Democrat, the General Election will be nonpartisan. Voters will also decide between Matthew George and Michael R. Dalsanto in the nonpartisan General Election for Licking County municipal court judge.
The Etna Township website indicates that Burkholder serves as one of its trustees. Masterson's Facebook page states she has experience working at Licking County Municipal Court as a court reporter and at Licking County Common Pleas Court in a similar capacity.
The Board of Elections website further notes that registered voters selecting a Republican ballot in Newark precincts 3A, 3B, and 3C will choose between two candidates for the City of Newark 3rd Ward council seat. Jeff Rath is seeking reelection to retain his council position, while Molly Ingold aims to unseat him. The primary winner will face Marci Fones, a Democrat, in the General Election.
The certified candidates list on the website highlights other significant races in the General Election, including municipal court judge positions, mayoral contests in Heath City, seats for Newark's 2nd, 4th, and 7th Wards, Reynoldsburg's auditor race, and the council-at-large election in Reynoldsburg.
