List of 2008 Ohio County Candidates

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Note: Incumbent (or candidates of incumbent's party) listed first. Italicized candidates are speculative or undeclared.

County Officers

Ohio has 88 counties. All but Summit County have what is called the statutory form of government; Summit has opted for a charter form of government (similar to a city). In statutory counties, two out of the three commissioners are elected in each Presidential election year, along with a clerk of courts, coroner, engineer, prosecutor, recorder, treasurer, and sheriff. These offices are not subject to term limits. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk.

Here are the 27 largest counties in Ohio (over 100 thousand residents), in descending order of population:

Cuyahoga County (pop. 1,393,978) - Northeast Ohio, includes Cleveland.

• Commissioner:
  • Tim Hagan (D)*
• Commissioner:
  • Peter Lawson Jones (D)*
  • Mayor Debbie Sutherland (R-Bay Village)
• Clerk of Courts:
  • Gerald Fuerst (D-University Heights)*
  • Burrell Jackson (R)
• Coroner:
  • Frank Miller III (D-Olmsted Falls)
• Engineer:
  • Robert Klaiber, Jr (D-North Royalton)*
• Prosecutor:
  • William D. Mason (D)*
  • Annette Garner Butler (R)
• Recorder:
  • Common Pleas Judge Judge Lillian Greene (D)
  • Cathy Luks (R)
• Treasurer:
  • James Rokakis (D)*
• Sheriff:
  • Gerald McFaul (D-Strongsville)*

Franklin (pop. 1,068,978) - Central Ohio, includes Columbus.

• Commissioner:
  • Paula Brooks (D)*
  • Angel Rhodes (R)
• Commissioner:
  • Clerk of Courts John O'Grady (D)
  • Jeffrey Miller (R)
• Clerk of Courts:
  • City Council member Maryellen Shaughnessy (D)
  • Dorothey Teater (R)
• Coroner:
  • Elaine Lewis (R)
  • Joan M. Gorniak (D)
• Engineer:
  • Dean Ringle (R)*
• Prosecutor:
  • Ronald O'Brien (R)*
  • Recorder:
    • Rob Montgomery (R)*
  • Treasurer:
    • Ed Leonard (D)*
    • Stephanie McCloud (R)
  • Sheriff:
    • Jim Karnes (D)*

  Hamilton (pop. 845,303) - Southwest Ohio, includes Cincinnati.

  • Commissioner:
    • Todd Portune (D)*
    • Realtor Ed Rothenberg (R-Hyde Park)
  • Commissioner:
    • Clerk of Courts Greg Hartmann (R)
    • Electrician Chris Dole (I-Crosby Twp)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Former state senator Patricia Clancy (R)
    • Martha Good (D)
  • Coroner:
    • O'dell Owens (D)*
  • Engineer:
    • William Brayshaw (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Joe Deters (R)*
  • Recorder:
    • Rebecca Prem Groppe (R)*
    • Former state representative Wayne Coates (D)
  • Treasurer:
    • Rob Goering (R)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Simon Leis Jr. (R)*

  Montgomery (pop. 559,062) - Southwest Ohio, includes Dayton.

  • Commissioner:
    • Judy Dodge (D-Vandalia)*
    • Township Trustee Joe Ellis (R-Butler Twp)
  • Commissioner
    • Debbie Lieberman (D-Clayton)*
  • Clerk of Courts
    • Greg Brush (D-Dayton)*
    • Jeff Busch (R-Centerville)
  • Coroner
    • Jim Davis (R-Centerville)*
  • Engineer
    • Joseph Litvin (D-Dayton)*
  • Prosecutor
    • Mathias Heck Jr (D-Brookville)*
  • Recorder
    • Willis Blackshear (D-Dayton)*
    • State Rep. Arlene Setzer (R-Vandalia)
  • Treasurer
    • Carolyn Rice (D-Dayton)*
    • Financial planner Gary Ross (R-Centerville)
  • Sheriff
    • Chief Deputy Sheriff Phil Plummer (R)
    • Former Deputy Sheriff Mike Tenore (D)

  Summit (pop. 542,899) - Northeast Ohio, includes Akron.

  • County Executive:
    • Russell M. Pry (D)*
    • Municipal Court Clerk Jim Laria (R)
  • Council Member - Dist. 1:
    • Nick Kostandaras (D)*
    • Bill Roehmer (R)
  • Council Member - Dist. 2:
    • John N. Schmidt (D)*
    • James M. Iona (R)
  • Council Member - Dist. 3:
    • ?
    • Paul Colavecchio (D-Cuyahoga Falls)
  • Council Member - Dist. 4:
    • Frank Comunale (D)*
    • Mike Hoover (R)
  • Council Member - Dist. 5:
    • Cazzell Smith (D)*
  • Council Member - Dist. 6:
    • Jerry Feeman (D)
    • Charlie Lasher (R)
  • Council Member - Dist. 7:
    • Tim Crawford (D)*
    • Mark R. Young (R)
  • Council Member - Dist. 8:
    • Paula Prentice (D)*
    • John Jones (R)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Daniel Horrigan (D-Akron)*
    • Mary Stormer (R)
  • Engineer:
    • Greg Bachman (R)*
    • Alan Brubaker (D)
  • Fiscal Officer:
    • John A. Donofrio (D)*
    • William B. Conte (R)
  • Prosecutor:
    • Sherri Bevan Walsh (D)*
    • Nancy Mecurio Morrison (R)
  • Sheriff:
    • Drew Alexander (R)*

  Lucas (pop. 455,054) - Northwest Ohio, includes Toledo.

  • Commissioner:
    • Pete Gerken (D)*
    • Dan Crandall (R-Springfield Twp)
  • Commissioner:
    • Commissioner President Tina Skeldon Wozniak (D)*
    • Joe Pellman (R)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • J. Bernie Quilter (D)*
  • Coroner:
    • James Patrick (D)*
  • Engineer:
    • Keith Earley (D)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Julia Bates (D)
  • Recorder:
    • Jeannine Perry (D-Sylvania Twp)*
    • Mary Rushong (R-Springfield Twp)
  • Treasurer:
    • Wade Kapszukiewizc (D)*
  • Sheriff:
    • James Telb (D)*
    • James Herrick (R)

  Butler (pop. 332,807) - Southwest Ohio, includes Hamilton.

  • Commissioner:
    • Charles Furmon (R)*
    • Lester H. Hubble Jr. (D)
  • Commissioner:
    • Donald Dixon (R)*
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Cindy Carpenter (R)*
    • Robert M. Tunnat (D)
  • Coroner:
    • Richard Burkhardt (R)*
  • Engineer:
    • Gregory Wilkens (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Robin Piper (R)*
  • Recorder:
    • Danny Crank (R)*
    • Lana Marie Patton (D)
  • Treasurer:
    • Nancy Nix (R)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Richard Jones (R)*
    • Dale Richter (D)

  Stark (pop. 378,098) - Northeast Ohio, includes Canton.

  • Commissioner:
    • Chiropractor Pete Ferguson (D)
    • State Rep. John Hagan (R-Marlboro Township)
  • Commissioner:
    • Tom Harmon (D-East Canton)*
    • Travis Secrest (R-Canton)
  • Clerk of Courts:
  • Coroner:
    • P.S. Murthy (D-North Canton)*
    • Guy L. Blaser (R-Canton)*
  • Engineer:
    • Michael J. Rehfus (D-Canton)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • John D. Ferrero (D-Massillon)*
  • Recorder:
    • Rick Campbell (D-Canal Fulton)*
    • Jeffrey K. Nickels Jr (R-Massillon)
  • Treasurer:
    • Gary D. Ziegler (D-North Canton)*
    • Alan Harold (R-Canton)
  • Sheriff:
    • Timothy Swanson (D-North Canton)*
    • Police Chief Lawrence A. Dordea (R-Alliance)

  Lorain (pop. 284,664) - Northeast Ohio, includes Lorain, Elyria.

  • Commissioner:
    • Ted Kalo (D)*
    • City Council member Nick Brusky (R)
  • Commissioner:
    • Lori Kokoski (D)*
    • City Council member Martin O'Donnell (R-Avon Lake)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Ronald Nabakowski (D)*
  • Coroner:
    • Paul Matus (R)*
  • Engineer:
    • Kenneth Carney (D)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Dennis Will (D)*
  • Recorder:
    • Judith Nedwick (D)*
  • Treasurer:
    • Daneil Talarek (D)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Phil Stammitti (D)*

  Mahoning (pop. 257,555) - Northeast Ohio, includes Youngstown.

  • Commissioner:
    • John McNally IV (D-Youngstown)*
    • Mental Health Counselor Lisa Lotze (R-North Lima)
  • Commissioner:
    • Anthony Traficanti (D-Poland)*
    • Chris McCarty (R-Boardman)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Anthony Vivo (D)*
  • Coroner:
    • David Kennedy (D)*
  • Engineer:
    • Richard Mersico (D)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Paul Gains (D)*
    • Marty Yavorcik (I)
  • Recorder:
    • Nora Lynn Palermo (D)*
    • YSU Professor Jeanette Garr (R-Canfield)
  • Treasurer:
    • County Dem Chair Lisa Antonini (D-Austintown)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Randall A. Wellington (D)*

  Lake (pop. 227,511) - Northeast Ohio, includes Painesville.

  • Commissioner:
    • Raymond Sines (R)*
    • Judy Moran (D)
  • Commissioner:
    • Robert Aufuldish (D)*
    • Raymond Somich (R)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Maureen Kelly (D)
    • Kevin Rhomberg (R)
  • Coroner:
    • Daniel Cudnick (D)
    • Dr. Lynn A. Smith (R)*
  • Engineer:
    • James Gilles (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Charles Coulson (R)*
  • Recorder:
    • Frank Suponcic (R)*
    • Ann Radcliffe (D)
  • Treasurer:
    • Joh Crocker (D)*
    • Chuck Heubner (R)
  • Sheriff:
    • Daniel Dunlap (R)*

  Trumbull (pop. 225,116) - Northeast Ohio, includes Warren.

  • Commissioner:
    • Paul E. Hetzel (D-Niles)*
  • Commissioner:
    • Daniel Polivka (D-Warren)*
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Karen Infante Allen (D-Niles)*
  • Coroner:
    • Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk (D-Warren)*
  • Engineer:
    • Cafaro Co. vice president and engineer David DeChristofaro (D-Niles)
  • Prosecutor:
    • Dennis Watkins (D)
  • Recorder:
    • Diana Marchese (D-Farmdale)*
  • Treasurer:
    • Sam Lamancusa (D-Girard)
  • Sheriff:
    • Thomas Altiere (D-Howland)*

  Clermont (pop. 177,977) - Southwest Ohio, includes Batavia.

  • Commissioner:
    • Township Trustee Ed Humphrey (R-Miami Twp)
    • Theresa Conover (D)
  • Commissioner:
    • Bob Proud (R)
    • Trucking business owner Tommy Auxier (D-Pierce Twp
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Barbara Wiedenbein (R-Union Twp)*
    • Township Trustee Gregg Conrad (D-Pierce Twp)
  • Coroner:
    • Brian Treon (R)*
  • Engineer:
    • Patrick Manger (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Don White (R)*
  • Recorder:
    • Township Trustee Debbie Clepper (R-Batavia)
    • Retired teacher Terry A. McCoy (D-Miami Twp)
  • Treasurer:
    • J. Robert True (R)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Albert Rodenberg (R)*

  Warren (pop. 158,383) - Southwest Ohio, includes Lebanon.

  • Commissioner:
    • Pat South (R)*
  • Commissioner:
    • David Young (R)*
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • James Spaeth (R)*
  • Coroner:
    • Russell Uptegrove (R)*
  • Engineer:
    • Neil Tunison (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Rachel Hutzel(R)*
  • Recorder:
    • Beth Deckard (R)*
  • Treasurer:
    • James Aumann (R)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Larry Lee Sims (R)

  Portage (pop. 152,061) - Northeast Ohio, includes Ravenna.

  • Commissioner:
    • Maureen Frederick (D)*
  • Commissioner:
    • Christopher Smeiles (D)*
    • Larry Solak (R)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Linda Fankhauser (D)*
  • Coroner:
    • Roger Marcial (D)*
  • Engineer:
    • Michael Marozzi (D)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Victor Vigliucci (D)*
  • Recorder:
    • Bonnie Howe (D)*
  • Treasurer:
    • Steve Shanafelt (D)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Duane Kaley (R)*
    • David Doak (D)

  Medina (pop. 151,095) - Northwest Ohio, includes Medina.

  • Commissioner:
    • Steve Hambley (R)*
    • John Sharkey II (D)
  • Commissioner:
    • Patricia Geissman (R)*
    • Brian Feron (D)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Kathy Fortney (R)*
  • Coroner:
    • Dr. Neil Grabenstetter (D)*
  • Engineer:
    • Michael Salay (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Dean Holman (D)*
    • Mario Russica (R)
  • Recorder:
    • Colleen Swedyk (R)*
    • Larry Courtney (D)
  • Treasurer:
    • John Burke (R)
    • Township trustee Mike Todd (D-Medina Twp)
  • Sheriff:
    • Neil Hassinger (R)*

  Greene (pop. 147,886) - Southwest Ohio, includes Xenia.

  • Commissioner:
    • Richard G. Perales (R-Beavercreek)*
    • Eddie K. Baumann (D-Xenia)
  • Commissioner:
    • County GOP chair Marilyn J. Reid (R-Beavercreek)
    • Retired civilian administrator at Wright AFB Jerome P. Sutton (D-Yellow Springs)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Terri Mazur (R-Cedarville)*
  • Coroner:
    • Kevin L. Sharrett (R-Sabina)
  • Engineer:
    • Robert Geyer (R-Xenia)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Stephen Haller (R-Bellbrook)*
  • Recorder:
    • Eric C. Sears (R-Beavercreek)
    • Mary Taylor (D-Spring Valley)
  • Treasurer:
    • James Schmidt (R-Xenia)*
  • Corinna Grooms (D-Xenia)
• Sheriff:
  • Gene Fischer (R-Xenia)*

  Licking (pop. 145,491) - Central Ohio, includes Newark.

  • Commissioner:
    • Tim Bubb (R)*
    • Doug Moreland (D)
  • Commissioner:
    • Mark Van Buren (D)*
    • Brad Feightner (R)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Gary Walters (R)*
    • Gerald McLaughlin (D)
  • Coroner:
    • Robert Raker (R)*
  • Engineer:
    • Tim Lollo (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Ken Oswalt (R)
  • Recorder:
    • Bryan Long (R)*
    • Dale Burns (D)
  • Treasurer:
    • Michael Smith (R)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Randy Thorp (R)*

  Clark (pop. 144,742) - Southwest Ohio, includes Springfield.

  • Commissioner:
    • John Detrick (R-Springfield)*
  • Commissioner:
    • David Hartley (D-Springfield)*
    • Paul Hazlett (R-South Charleston)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Ron Vincent (D)
  • Coroner:
    • Richard Marsh (D-Springfield)*
  • Engineer:
    • Bruce Smith (D-Springfield)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Stephen Schumaker (R-Springfield)*
  • Recorder:
    • Nancy Pence (R-New Carlisle)*
    • James Morgan (D-Springfield)
  • Treasurer:
    • Stephen Metzger (D-Springfield)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Gene Kelly (D-Springfield)*
    • Vaughn McKenney (R-Springfield)

  Richland (pop. 128,852) - North Central Ohio, includes Mansfield.

  • Commissioner:
    • Tim Wert (R-Mansfield)*
    • Charles Winger (D-Mansfield)
  • Commissioner:
    • Gary Utt (D-Mansfield)*
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Linda H. Frary (R-Shiloh)*
    • Julia Lorenz (D-Mansfield)
  • Coroner:
    • Stewart Ryckman (R-Mansfield)*
  • Engineer:
    • Thomas Beck (R-Mansfield)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • James Mayer Jr. (D-Mansfield)*
  • Recorder:
    • Sarah Davis (R-Mansfield)*
  • Treasurer:
    • Bart Hamilton (D-Mansfield)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Steve Sheldon (R-Mansfield)*

  Fairfield (pop. 122,759) - Central Ohio, includes Lancaster.

  • Commissioner:
    • Judith Shupe (R-Amanda)*
    • Karl Stalter (D-Pleasantville)
  • Commissioner:
    • Jon Myers (R-Lancaster)*
    • George Hallarn (D-Carroll)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Deborah Smalley (R-Canal Winchester)*
  • Coroner:
    • Thomas Vajen (R-Lancaster)*
  • Engineer:
    • Frank Anderson (R-Baltimore)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • David Landefeld (R-Lancaster)*
  • Recorder:
    • Gene Wood (R-Lancaster)*
  • Treasurer:
    • Jon Slater Jr. (R-Lancaster)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Dave Phalen (R-Lancaster)*

  Wood (pop. 121,065) - Northwest Ohio, includes Bowling Green.

  • Commissioner:
    • Alvie Perkins (D-Bowling Green)*
    • James Witker (R-Bradner)
  • Commissioner:
    • James Carter (R-Grand Rapids)*
    • Joel Kuhlman (D-Pemberville)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Cindy Hofner (R-Bowling Green)
    • Gordy Heminger (D-Bowling Green)
  • Coroner:
    • Douglas Hess (R-North Baltimore)*
  • Engineer:
    • Ray Huber (R-Perrysburg)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Paul Dobson (R-Bowling Green)
  • Recorder:
    • Mike Merillat (R-Perrysburg)
    • Julie Baumgardner (D-Weston)
  • Treasurer:
    • Jill Engle (R-Wayne)*
    • Liz Larson-Shidler (D-Perrysburg)
  • Sheriff:
    • Mark Wasylyshyn (R-Bowling Green)*

  Columbiana (pop. 112,075) - East Ohio, includes Lisbon.

  • Commissioner:
    • Jim Hoppel (R-East Liverpool)*
    • Brenda Dickey Myers (D-Salem)
  • Commissioner:
    • Peggy J. Traina (D-Wellsville)*
    • Becky Burke (R-East Liverpool)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Anthony Dattilio (D)*
  • Coroner:
    • Dr. William Graham (R)*
  • Engineer:
    • Bert Dawson (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Robert Herron (D)*
  • Recorder:
    • Craig Brown (D-Salem)*
    • Adam Booth (R-New Waterford)
  • Treasurer:
    • Nick Barborak (D-Lisbon)*
    • James Armeni (R-Salem)
  • Sheriff:
    • Ray Stone (R)
    • John Soldano (D)

  Wayne (pop. 111,564) - NE Central Ohio, includes Wooster.

  • Commissioner:
    • State Rep. Jim Carmichael (R-Wooster)
  • Commissioner:
    • Scott Wiggam (R)*
    • Terry Kline (D)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Tim Neal (R)*
  • Coroner:
    • Amy Jolliff (R)*
  • Engineer:
    • Roger K. Terrill (R)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Martin Frantz (R)*
  • Recorder:
    • Jane Carmichael (R)*
  • Treasurer:
    • Beverly Shaw (R)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Thomas G. Maurer (R)*

  Delaware (pop. 109,989) - Ohio, includes Delaware.

  • Commissioner:
    • Tommy W. Thompson (R-Delaware)
    • Neil Neidhardt (D-Ostrander)
  • Commissioner:
    • Ken O'Brien (R-Delaware)
    • Roger M. VanSickle (D-Delaware)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Jan Antonoplos (R-Dublin)*
  • Coroner:
    • Mark Hickman (R-Delaware)*
  • Engineer:
    • Chris Bauserman (R-Delaware)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Dave Yost (R-Delaware)*
  • Recorder:
    • Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware)*
    • Julie R. Houston (D-Delaware)
  • Treasurer:
    • State Rep. Jon Peterson (R-Delaware)
  • Sheriff:
    • Walter L. Davis III (R-Westerville)

  Allen (pop. 108,473) - Northwest Ohio, includes Lima.

  • Commissioner:
    • Sam D. Bassitt (R-Bluffton)*
  • Commissioner:
    • William Danny Reif (R-Elida)*
    • Farley Banks (D-Lima)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Gina C. Staley-Blurley (R-Bluffton)*
  • Coroner:
    • Gary R. Beasley (R-Lima)*
  • Engineer:
    • Timothy Piper (R-Elida)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Juergen Waldick (R-Delphos)*
  • Recorder:
    • Mona Losh (R-Elida)*
    • Jeff Robey (D-Cairo)
  • Treasurer:
    • Rhonda Eddy (R-Lima)*
  • Sheriff:
    • Daniel Beck (R)

  Ashtabula (pop. 102,728) - Northeast Ohio, includes Ashtabula.

  • Commissioner:
    • Daniel Claypool (D-Jefferson)*
    • Charlie Frye (R-Dorset)
  • Commissioner:
    • Township trustee Peggy Carlo (D-Saybrook)
    • Pat O'Brien (R-Rome)
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Carol Mead (D-Ashtabula)*
  • Coroner:
    • Robert Malinowski (R-Jefferson)*
  • Engineer:
    • Timothy Martin (R-Andover)*
  • Prosecutor:
    • Thomas Sartini (D-Ashtabula)
  • Recorder:
    • Judith Barta (D-Jefferson)*
  • Treasurer:
    • David Brown R-Andover)
    • Dawn Cragon (D-Ashtabula)
  • Sheriff:
    • Billy Johnson (R-Ashtabula)*