RICHLAND CO. – A ballot measure for a little Richland County village wanting to sell alcohol is the highlight of the election this year.
And for a county that generally sees a pathetic voter turnout of mid-teens-percent nearly every election, the fact that the village of Claremont wants to sell alcohol probably won’t alter those stats much.
The ballot question is one of those backwards-worded things that plague pretty much every election at some point in time across the state: “Shall the sale at retail of alcoholic liquor for on premises consumption be prohibited in the Village of Claremont?” If you want to STOP whatever halfway-businessman is proposing bringing a bar to Claremont – already hurting for not only businesses, but also for residents who don’t have a criminal history, charged or not – you must vote “yes” to prohibit it. If you don’t care that someone wants to bring a drinking establishment to the already-miserable village – which has an illegal alien as a mayor because no one else wanted to do it – vote “no.”
The biggest problem is that of the now-less-than 200 population in the village of Claremont, the voter turnout is literally in the double digits…and low ones, at that. In 2013, 13 people – that’s THIRTEEN – bothered to vote. So maybe the ballot proposal will get a few more…maybe five or so…to participate. And depending on which ones show up, it’s a total crapshoot as to whether the proposal will pass because most of those interested might not understand the question due to the way it’s worded…and then get mad afterward because of the way they voted.
Otherwise in Richland, there’s actually a contested race for a seat on the county board.
In District 1, Republican Brian Vanblaricum is challenging incumbent Democrat Greg Amerman. Vanblaricum might actually prevail in this one, as there have been very few changes on the county board for a number of years and people are tired of it. Amerman, however, is a long-time board member and is entrenched with those who manage county business, so it might be close.
The rest of the board will be rounded out by these unopposed folks: Shawn Rose (R) in District 3; Emily Ann Blackford (D) in District 4; and Morgan Henton (R) in District 5.
There are no contenders for the incumbents in the offices of circuit clerk (Zac Holder), state’s attorney (Brad Vaughn, shown on the ballot by his full name of Charles Bradley Vaughn), supervisor of assessments (Tim Hahn), and coroner (Randy Kistler), all of them Republicans.
Richland’s choice on the ballot for state rep is limited to the incumbent, Republican David Reis.
Richland, like others in the Fifth Judicial District Appellate Court, is voting to fill the vacancy of Judge James Wexstten with either Republican Randy Moore, or Dem Jo Beth Weber; and to fill the vacancy of Bruce Stewart, Republican John Barberis Jr. or Dem Brad Bleyer.
Richland also gets to retain their resident judge, Larry Dunn; as well as Judge Robert Hopkins from Lawrence and Judge Paul Lamar from Hardin, all of which are predicted to get enough “yes” votes (and lack of “no” votes) to keep their seats for another six years, although that actually remains to be seen as to whether all of them will finish out their terms, as each of them have been on the bench for enough turns to take their leave and receive their retirement during this six-year stint.