ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio – Beginning next week, voters can directly engage with candidates for local elected office at forums and meet-and-greets hosted by the League of Women Voters of Athens County.
The forums will feature candidates who will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 7 election. Many other races are uncontested this year.
A full list of the events is included below. Additional events may be added, with the latest list available on the league’s website.
“We are trying to provide spaces where voters can learn about the candidates to see who is on their ballot,” said Adriane Mohlenkamp with the League of Women Voters of Athens County. The forums are “an opportunity to find out what is important to those candidates — what those candidates say they’re going to bring to the office — so that voters have the information they need to make a decision and cast a vote,” she added.
Media coverage and official voter guides — such as the guide the league will soon release at vote411.org — often emphasize candidate information broadly relevant to most voters. The forums, in contrast, provide an opportunity for voters to get more granular about the issues relevant to them, said Mohlenkamp.
Voters may submit questions to AthensCountyAsks@gmail.com at least 48 hours before each forum. Questions will also be taken in person at the events.
The league will not accept advance questions for its meet the candidates events for Ames Township Trustees, Coolville Village Council, Carthage Township Trustees and Trimble Township Trustees, as these events utilize a different format.
With the exception of the Coolville event, which will be held in small breakout groups, all events will be recorded and posted on the league’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, with links available on the league’s website.
Athens Mayor Forum — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, Athens Community Center
Incumbent mayor Steve Patterson, a Democrat, will face independent challenger Damon Krane.
Krane, a democratic socialist, was handily defeated in both his 2019 bid for mayor and his 2021 bid for an at-large city council seat. He previously told the Independent he is unsure whether to expect a different outcome this time, but he hopes his candidacy will boost election turnout.
Mohlenkamp said both candidates will appear at the forum, the only debate scheduled between the two. Krane also challenged Patterson to debate on Ohio University’s campus as part of Krane’s effort to encourage youth voter turnout, but Patterson declined.
This event will also be streamed on the City of Athens Facebook page and Youtube channel.
Trimble Local School Board Forum — 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, Trimble High School
Incumbent board member Dave Owen faces David Alex Jajczyk and Kayla Simons in a race for two seats.
Glouster Mayor Forum — 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, Trimble High School
Glouster Mayor Samantha Sikorski faces two challengers in Jerry Lenigar and Jon Stevens.
Alexander Local School Board Forum — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, Alexander High School
Board members Lucy Juedes and Blake Regan face challenger Stephen Crook for two positions.
Nelsonville City Council Forum — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, The Lodge at Hocking College
Six people filed for one of three, four-year at-large seats on Nelsonville City Council. Five are currently members: Nancy Sonick, Justin Booth, Doug Childs, Tony Dunfee and Dan Sherman. Rita Nguyen, who worked briefly this year as a city administrative assistant, is the sole newcomer running for a full term.
Three unexpired, two-year at-large seats are also available for Nelsonville City Council. Candidates for these seats include Jonathan Flowers, Greg Smith and current council member Cory Taylor, but they will not take part in the forum, as the race is uncontested.
Federal Hocking School Board Forum — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, Federal Hocking High School
Four candidates are vying for two Federal Hocking School Board seats: Crystal Bolin, Lynne Genter, Jenny Leigh and Daniel Torrence. None are currently members of the district’s school board.
Ames Township Trustees Virtual Meet the Candidates — 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, livestreamed on Facebook.
Gary Sayers will contest the seat currently held by incumbent Lyle Fuller.
Coolville Village Council Meet the Candidates — 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, Coolville United Methodist Church
Current village council members Curtis Rood, Frankie Dale Rife, Tiffany Rife Oman, June Tanner and Thomas Leo Todd Jr. are vying for two seats.
Carthage Township Trustees Virtual Meet the Candidates — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, livestreamed on Facebook
Incumbent Ranson Calaway will face challenger Gene Griffiths.
Trimble Township Trustees Virtual Meet the Candidates — 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, livestreamed on Facebook
Incumbent Robert H. Funk Jr. will face three challengers in Brad Lowry, Brian Metcalf and Dusty Murphy.
Correction: The list of candidates for Nelsonville City Council initially omitted current council member Nancy Sonick. Her name has been added to the candidate list.
