ICYMI: Ohio County overwhelming passes levies for schools, library, buses

With voter turnout fourth in the state, Ohio County voters overwhelmingly support three levies for public utilities. The message of the night, however, is "where are the candidates?"

Ohio County, W.Va. – Voters in the county overwhelmingly supported three levies funding public schools, the library, and the Ohio Valley Regional Transit Authority (OVRTA). Incumbents up and down the ballot saw broad support for their reelection campaigns with few exceptions. 

10,972 votes were cast in Ohio Co. during the May 14 primary sending voter turnout to 40.1%, nearly ten percentage points higher than the state average of 30.32%. Ohio Co. ranked fourth in the state for turnout behind Wirt Co. (40.59%), Doddridge Co. (40.66%), and Grant Co. (43.93%).

Republican voters saw the highest turnout (57.19%) among the two main political parties with 5,987 votes cast. Democratic voters cast 4.451 votes for a 49.04% voter turnout; and Mountain voters cast 25 votes for a 59.52% voter turnout. 

A board of education levy for the county’s schools was approved by 75% of voters. This $23,000,000 re-authorization in funding will support instructional materials, maintenance, salaries and benefits, support to community services and agencies, and school safety through July 1, 2028. 

A second board of education levy, this time for the county’s public library, was approved by 77% of voters reaffirming $1,066,000 in funding that will last through July 1, 2028.

OVRTA, the area’s only public transportation system, saw an astounding 82% of voters approve a levy supporting its operational budget. As of 2023, the levy had generated $1,669,739 for the system in Wheeling. This time, the levy could see $1.5 million injected into the transit authority. 

In an election night upset, Brooke Co. Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Barki was elected judge for division one of the first circuit court, which includes Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio Counties. Barki defeated longtime incumbent Ron Wilson, 86, who was first elected in 1982. 

In the county, Barki swept the race with 58% of the vote. Wilson garnered 28% and Wheeling attorney Dean Williams secured 13% of the vote. 

Barki ran on a campaign for a fresh set of eyes to the judiciary and touted endorsements from the Republican party in his numerous social media, television, and physical advertisements. He will join incumbent judges David Sims, Jason Cuomo, and Michael Olejasz, on the bench for the first circuit. Sims, Cuomo, and Olejasz each ran unopposed. 

Nelson Croft, Jr., won the Republican nomination to become the county’s next sheriff after incumbent Sheriff Tom Howard chose to run for magisterial judge. Croft will face Howard Haglock, Democratic nominee, on November 5. Haglock ran unopposed. 

Kevin Stryker, magisterial judge for Ohio Co. division one, was resolutely reelected in a contested primary against challenger Chester Bise. Stryker garnered 65% of the vote. 

In division four, Sheriff Tom Howard won the open race to become the next magistrate judge against challenger John Powell. Howard received nearly 68% of the vote. 

Divisions two and three saw incumbent magistrate judges Patricia Murphy and Janine Varner reelected in uncontested elections. 

Two newcomers will sit on the Ohio Co. Board of Education–Bernard Albertini and Anne Hercules. Albertini received nearly 40% of the vote to represent district two, and Hercules saw almost 31% of voters support her campaign to represent district one. 

The conservation district supervisor, who oversees programming from the West Virginia Conservation Agency, will be Amy Wade. Wade received 58% of the vote defeating challenger Alex Coogan.

Candidates running unopposed was a general theme of the May 14 election. 

Family Court judges Joyce Chernenko and Heather Wood were reelected, but neither faced challengers in their races. 

Incumbent Commissioner Don Nickerson will be re-elected to the Ohio Co. Commission on November 5. Nickerson ran unopposed in the Republican primary and there was no Democratic challenger. 

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shawn Turak will be elected head prosecuting attorney in November as she ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and no Republican candidate ran.

Incumbent County Assessor Tiffany Hoffman saw no challenger in the Democratic primary, and no Republican candidate filed to run, securing her reelection in November. 

No candidate for county surveyor filed for any primary. 

(Photo courtesy of the Ohio County Public Library)