County election sees low voter turn-out; winners of contested City Council races named
Kirsten Barnhart, DHI Media News Editor Tuesday, May 4, 2021 9:07 PM
VAN WERT – Van Wert County’s Special Election on Tuesday had a low
voter turnout with 1,214 ballots cast or 6.03 percent of total
registered voters in the county. There were only two contested races,
however, both on city-only ballots.
Gerald T. Mazur received 324
votes or 54.09 percent of the Republican vote to Kirby R. Kelly’s 275
votes or 45.91 percent for the Van Wert City Council President seat.
Mazur’s name will still appear on the November ballot.
Four
Republicans were looking to fill three seats up for grabs for Member of
DAVE MOSIER/
independent editor
A dearth of local issues and just two Van Wert City Council primary races led to a record, or near record voter turnout, as well as a quick night for the Van Wert County Board of Elections ballot counters.
Out of a registered county voter base of 20,132 people, 5,722 of those registered as Republicans, a total of just 1,214 people voted in the primary election. Of those, 626 were Republican and 588 voted a non-partisan ballot.
Both Van Wert County Council on Aging replacement tax levies passed by overwhelming margins, with the .25-mill, five-year levy passing 1,085-116 and the .20-mill, five-year levy passing 1,077-114. Both levies received just over 90 percent of the ballots cast