3rd Ward voters take part in Primary
Staff Report
PORTSMOUTH- On Tuesday, a portion of Scioto County voters were provided a chance along with many counties throughout Ohio to vote in the 2021 Primary election.
That portion came solely from Portsmouth’s 3rd Ward, which makes up four of the county’s 77 voting precincts, whose vote went towards narrowing the council race down to two candidates.
Four names appeared on the ballot, but only three were to be considered. Premier Kites and Designs Operations Manager Andy Cole, Portsmouth West High School student Gary Jenkins, and former teacher Jerry Skiver were those three candidates.
Why the mayor won’t endorse a 3rd Ward candidate
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH In politics, it all comes down to who has your back. Having someone’s back can mean anything from a vote to also publicly proclaiming support through front-yard signs or Facebook posts.
Endorsements of candidates are commonplace during any political season, regardless of what level. While the Scioto County Republican and Democrat parties backed the Trump-Pence or Biden-Harris ticket respectively last fall, they also pledged support to state and county candidates.
The 2021 elections will not have the draw of a presidential or even a congressional vote, a hyper-focused local attention instead of the case. The game for these local candidates- races in Portsmouth and New Boston city councils- however remains the same: winning votes.
Andy Cole vows to ‘Put Portsmouth First’
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH On Monday, he petitioned for a fellow ward resident’s right to have a beehive on his property. Following the results of the upcoming elections, he plans on advocating for the wants and needs of all his neighbors as its councilman.
Andy Cole will be among the three candidates vying for the seat in the relatively crowded 3rd Ward race. On Thursday, he spoke with the
Portsmouth
Timesand shared his vision for his hopeful four-year term.
“I have never been a politician and have never wanted to be a politician,” he said in a phone interview. “Portsmouth means a lot to me, I met my wife here, my whole family is here. I have seen a lot of great things happening here in Portsmouth.”
Candidates petitions received by SCBOE
Joey Sandlin is running for the Portsmouth 5th Ward Councilperson position. Photo courtesy of Joey Sandlin.
Andy Cole is running for the Portsmouth 3rd Ward Councilperson position. Photo courtesy of Andy Cole.
Ryan Ottney is again running for a position on the Village of New Boston Council. File Photo.
Jessica Pacula is running for the Portsmouth 3rd Ward Councilperson position. Photo courtesy of Jessica Pacula.
Jerry Skiver is running for the Portsmouth 3rd Ward Councilperson position. Photo courtesy of Jerry Skiver.
Current 5th Ward Councilman Edwin Martell, pictured here during his Jan. 14, 2020 appointment, is running as a write-in candidate for the ward. File photo.