Putnam voters reject fire protection levy, oust sheriff 

OTTAWA – Putnam County voters on Tuesday shot down a 0.69-mill, five-year additional levy for fire protection that would have funded the replacement of an aerial platform truck and two heavy rescue units.

County voters also ousted the sheriff, and returned two county commissioners to office.

Just 22 percent, or 4,032 county voters, favored the fire protection levy, while 77 percent, or 13,674 voters, opposed it.

Two other countywide tax issues had better success.

A 0.6-mill, five-year replacement levy for Putnam County Council on Aging for senior citizen services passed with 12,617 votes, or about 71 percent. About 28 percent, or 5,070, voted against the levy.

The owner of a $100,000 appraised house can expect to pay $21 annually. The levy is estimated to generate about $436,225 yearly, according to the county auditor’s office.

A 0.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for Putnam County General Health District for health programs also passed with 11,226 votes, or about 64 percent, while 6,282, or about 35 percent, voted no.

The owner of a $100,000 appraised house can expect to pay about $17.50 annually. The levy generates about $287,631 yearly, according to the auditor’s office.

Republican Michael Chandler defeated incumbent Democrat Jim Beutler in the race for Putnam County sheriff. Chandler received about 56 percent of the vote, or 9,957 votes, while Beutler received about 43 percent, or 7,677 votes.

Beutler has served as sheriff for three terms. Chandler is retired from the sheriff’s office.

In the race for one county commissioner seat, incumbent Republican Travis Jerwers won with 7,478 votes, or about 42 percent. Democrat Mark Schmiedebusch received 3,958 votes, or about 22 percent. Independent Michael Lammers received 3,132 votes, or 17 percent, and independent Don Honigford received 2,942 votes, or about 16 percent.

For a second county commissioner seat, incumbent Republican Vincent Schroeder won with about 65 percent of the vote, or 10,999 votes. Independent Barry Woodyard received 5,669 votes, or about 34 percent.

In Ottawa, voters narrowly voted against electric and gas aggregation, or buying electricity and natural gas as a group to gain buying power. The measure for electricity aggregation was defeated by just 17 votes, with 1,021 votes against and 1,004 votes in favor. The measure for gas aggregation was defeated by six votes, with 1,000 votes against and 994 votes in favor.

In an advisory vote, Kalida residents favored the construction and operation of wind turbines in industrially-zoned areas of the village, with 478 votes in favor and 261 votes against.

Other tax issues

• Belmore approved a 6-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses, with 35 votes in favor and 12 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $210 annually. The levy generates about $2,274 yearly, according to the county auditor’s office.

• Dupont approved a 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses, with 67 votes in favor and 36 votes against. The owner of a house appraised at $100,000 pays about $52.50 annually. The levy generates about $2,456 yearly.

• Dupont voters also approved a 1-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses, with 70 votes in favor and 33 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $35 annually. The levy generates about $1,637 yearly.

• Leipsic approved a 0.6-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses, with 502 votes in favor and 348 against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $21 annually. The levy generates about $11,902 yearly.

• Ottawa approved a 1.1-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire protection, with 1,354 votes in favor and 821 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $38.50 annually. The levy generates about $95,854 yearly.

• Blanchard Township approved a 1-mill, five-year replacement levy for fire protection, with 446 votes in favor and 224 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $35 annually. The levy generates about $29,803 yearly, according to the auditor’s office.

• Jackson Township-Fort Jennings Fire District approved a 0.8-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire protection, with 48 votes in favor and 13 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $28 annually. The levy generates about $1,676 yearly.

• Jackson Township-Kalida Fire District approved a 1.35-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire protection with 151 in favor and 95 against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $47.25 annually. The levy generates about $10,222 yearly.

• Jackson Township-Ottoville Fire District approved a 1-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire protection, with 154 votes in favor and 67 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $35 annually. The levy generates about $6,869 yearly.

• Jennings Township approved a 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire protection, with 832 votes in favor and 283 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $52.50 annually. The levy generates about $49,154 yearly.

• Liberty Township approved a 1.25-mill, five-year replacement levy for fire protection and emergency medical services, with 494 votes in favor and 242 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $43.75 annually. The levy generates about $43,988 yearly.

• Pleasant Township approved a 0.4-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire protection, with 1,178 votes in favor and 768 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $14 annually. The levy generates about $14,079 yearly.

• Riley Township approved a 0.75-mill, five-year replacement levy for fire protection, with 399 votes in favor and 187 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $26.25 annually. The levy generates about $22,026 yearly.

• Sugar Creek Township approved a 1-mill, five-year replacement levy for roads, with 345 votes in favor and 260 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $35 annually. The levy generates about $26,070 yearly.

• Van Buren Township approved a 2-mill, five-year replacement levy for fire protection, with 207 votes in favor and 117 votes against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $70 annually. The levy generates about $29,078 yearly.

School issues on the ballot are:

• Ottawa-Glandorf School District approved a 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for permanent improvements, with 3,135 votes in favor and 1,682 against. The owner of a $100,000 appraised house pays about $52.50 annually. The levy generates about $139,724 yearly, according to the auditor’s office.

• Pandora-Gilboa School District approved a 0.75 percent, five-year income tax renewal for current expenses, with 1,094 votes in favor and 767 against. The tax generates about $640,000 annually.

Statewide races

Here’s how Putnam County voted on statewide candidates and issues:

• President: Republican Mitt Romney, 13,563 votes; Democrat Barack Obama, 4,238 votes; Libertarian Gary Johnson, 159 votes; Constitution Party candidate Virgil Goode, 29 votes; Green Party candidate Jill Stein, 68 votes; Socialist Stewart Alexander, 13 votes; independent Richard Duncan, 56 votes.

• U.S. senator: Republican Josh Mandel, 12,743 votes; Democrat Sherrod Brown, 4,510 votes; independent Scott Rupert, 711 votes.

• Three Ohio Supreme Court races:

Democrat Mike Skindell, 2,989 votes; Republican Justice Terrence O’Donnell, 10,612 votes.

Democrat William O’Neill, 3,037 votes; Republican Justice Robert Cupp, 12,159 votes.

Republican Sharon Kennedy, 9,820 votes; Democratic Justice Yvette McGee Brown, 3,046 votes.

State Issue 1 (convention to revise Ohio Constitution): Yes, 3,167 votes; No, 13,137 votes.

State Issue 2 (commission to draw legislative and congressional districts): Yes, 3,235 votes; No, 13,264 votes.