The Montgomery County Board of Elections is about to go into full graphologist mode grading signatures on petitions to tell us who can run for office. Some people turned in petitions early and are already on the ballot, but most waited to the last minute. There are still some positions where the petitions aren’t in yet, but in a quick analysis- we the voters are still getting less than we should in terms of choices.
For Judge- all incumbent judges were voted in for life, there isn’t a single one getting opposed. That’s because the parties have a deal not to do it.
Many communities have x open seats and exactly x candidates- no election needed, unless someone runs as a write in- and works their butt off.
So:
- Brookville Council
- Germantown Mayor
- Huber Heights Mayor
- Huber Heights Council at Large
- Huber Heights Council District 3
- Huber Heights Council District 4
- Miamisburg Council Ward 1
- Miamisburg Council Ward 2
- Miamisburg Council Ward 3
- Miamisburg Council Ward 4
- West Carrollton Council has 4 spots open, but only 2 candidates
- Phillipsburg Mayor
- Clay Township Trustee (1) UTE 12/31/2027
- Jefferson Township Trustee
- Kettering School Board
- Northmont School Board
- Trotwood?Madison School Board 3 seats, only 2 candidates
- West Carrollton School Board (1) UTE 12/31/2027
- West Carrollton School Board
- Brookville Local School Board
- Brookville Local School Board (1) UTE 12/31/2027
- Jefferson Township Local School Board 3 openings 2 candidates
- New Lebanon Local School Board
- Northridge Local School Board
If everyone of these petitions gets approved, you have no reason to go to the polls, unless some write in candidates add themselves in (hint hint).
A few other interesting notes: Miami Township Fiscal Officer Bob Matthews who is in deep doo-doo already for doing naughty things with the taxpayer funds, took out a petition to run against incumbents Terry Posey Jr and Doug Barry. Considering Matthews will soon be removed from office by the State Auditor and will be ineligible to hold office (if he’s not in prison) it means Miami Township has no choices either.
In the contested races, it’s too early to say anything, since the penmenship brigade hasn’t given grades to voters signatures yet, but Dayton Public Schools had 10 people file for 4 seats. There’s more to this story, which I’ll get to soon. But, Mz. Chrisondra Goodwine is now running her brother to make sure she has total control, since she also hired board Member William Bailey to work for her over in Jefferson Township. Still waiting on the Ohio Ethics Commission to weigh in on that possible conflict of interest. BTW- these seats require an ungodly 300 good signatures- if you collect them solo. But as Chrisondra, her brother and Joe Lacey worked together with a joint petition- they only had to collect 300 between the three of them. The other candidates couldn’t work together to get on the ballot- just as they probably won’t work together if they get elected (this is the most dysfunctional board ever).
- Huber Heights and Miamisburg School boards and Union Council have 2 incumbents out of 6 candidates running for 3 seats. Should be interesting.
- Perry Township, Jackson Township Trustee has 5 candidates for 2 seats with 2 incumbents running in both races.
- New Lebanon Council has 5 running for 3 seats with 1 incumbent.
- Riverside Council has 7 people, 2 incumbents, running for 4 seats.
- Kettering Council at Large has 5 candidates for 2 seats- but these aren’t due yet (the 21st of Aug). No incumbents have filed yet.
- Germantown Council has 6 candidates, 3 incumbents running for 3 seats.
- Centerville Council has 3 incumbents and 3 challengers for 3 seats.
All this can change with the BOE disqualifying some.
In the best possible world, if you run unopposed, it would be your last term in that office. And, if no one runs for a seat, the jurisdiction should be forced to merge with another jurisdiction. We have way too many banana republics in Montgomery County and it’s part of the reason our taxes are too damn high.
Here’s the complete report the BOE uploaded today.
I’m always amazed at the work you must do just to keep abreast of current public affairs, David.
It appears from this candidate list David provided that lifelong Republican Ken Betz, former director of the Miami Valley Crime Lab, is running for Butler Township trustee.
A poor disabled child, 7-year-old Hershall Creachbaum, was murdered at 404 Xenia Avenue in Dayton, Ohio.
https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/they-wont-help-us-school-staff-called-children-services-multiple-times-before-boys-death-per-911-calls/CSLIE4OVKVE4PFE7K5TFGSO7UA/
Per the Montgomery County Auditor’s online public records, this home is owned by Willing Investments LLC. Willing Investments LLC acquired this property from Willing Homes LLC. A member of Willing Homes LLC who signed the deed to sell to Willing Investments LLC was Melaine Betz, wife of Thomas Betz.
These two companies are owned by Thomas and Melaine/Melanie Betz, 719 Grand Wood Court, Springboro, Ohio. Additional online public records with the Ohio Secretary of State and the Warren County Board of Elections reflect this. Thomas Betz is the son of Ken Betz, the former director of the Miami Valley Crime Lab.
Tom Betz has had past legal troubles, including being guilty of running a drug ring, money laundering, and bankruptcy. Ken Betz’s son, Tom Betz, served no prison time.
https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/pounds-pot-zero-prison-time-for-son-former-head-crime-lab/qByhu1SWCM2E6OYPGq8t4J/
Ken Betz retired in 2017, about the time his son was nabbed for the pot/drug raid. His son served no prison time. Recall the body hauling contract snafu between Ken Betz and convicted felon Brian Higgins who did serve prison time. I guess it’s who you know…
https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/county-renews-contract-with-delinquent-business/sgcGHGkKjQ1seSggUs6OhM/
I wonder if Tom and Melaine Betz are into being slumlords now and/or laundering drug money again. It looks like they need a new tenant at 404 Xenia Avenue, in any event.
Republican Ken Betz is unsuitable for any government job. He could work to rehab his son.