How to vote in 2024

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October 3, 2024

Lucas Zielinksi, with Turning Point USA, hands Amelia Mathkour, a music, business and tech major at Owens Community College, a pamphlet about voting registration. Zielinksi said he was on campus for the day to help students register to vote. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Lucas County Board of Elections explains voting details, process

Toledo – With Election Day a month away, preparations are in full swing at the Lucas County Board of Elections office.

“We’re up and running and getting everything ready,” said Timothy Monaco, deputy director of the elections office. “It’s a wonderful time. It’s important to exercise your right to vote.”

Logistics that the staff and officers have been handling for weeks on behalf of Lucas County’s 303 voting precincts include preparing ballots, training precinct election officials, and getting early voting dates and times posted on their website.

Monaco said the most commonly asked question from voters during the past couple of weeks has been when absentee ballots will arrive in the mail.

Here’s the answer: Ohio voters can look for the absentee ballots starting Oct. 8, which is one day after registration ends for the Nov. 5 election.

The Lucas County Board of Elections staff doesn’t give predictions on voter turnout, Monaco said. But, according to state election records, 67 percent of registered Lucas County voters participated in the 2020 presidential election, and 66 percent did so in the 2016 presidential election. This participation includes absentee voting, early in-person voting and traditional Election Day voting.

Those choices are meant to help all eligible voters participate, whether they prefer going in person to a local polling site or to cast a ballot before they travel out of town.

“It’s important to make your plan as to who you are going to vote for,” Monaco said. “Make sure you make a plan and know what is on your ballot.”

While the presidential campaign is the key race of the Nov. 5 election, there are also races in Lucas County for local judges and city officials. For those who want to see the list ahead of time, ballot proofs are available for review on the election board’s website.

“Ballots will be three pages for everyone and four pages for some,” Monaco said.

While some people remember how they wish to vote when going to the polls, others find it helpful to bring paper notes or refer to a list on their phone, Monaco said. “Some folks really come prepared,” he said.

“It’s also important to be respectful at the location,” he added, referring to an Ohio law that prohibits photos of marked ballots. “We do ask that you limit cell phone use at the ballot.”

Many other election details are explained at lucascountyohiovotes.gov.

Election calendar

Key dates for the November 5 election:

Military and overseas civilian voting: Started Sept. 20.
Voter registration deadline: 9 p.m. Oct. 7.
Early in-person voting season: Oct. 8.-Nov. 3.
Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Nov. 4.
Election Day: Nov. 5.

CAMPUS TALK

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SOUND OFF ABOUT VOTING

Question: How important is voting to you?

Voting is not my main concern, but it is pretty important because it is the future of America and I would like to have a say in what is gonna be my future. I usually try to vote on voting day, if I can’t I’ll do the absentee ballot.
Oliver Odendahl | EMT Major | Tontogany Resident

I am not a registered voter. If I was to lie to you I’d say yes. But honestly, I don’t have enough time … it’s not really a main priority, even though it should be. I do plan on voting at some point, maybe when I’m in my adult phase. Even though I’m not a registered voter I do think voting is important because it basically determines the society and the rules and regulations we live by.
James Johnson | Broadcast Media Technology Major | Toledo Resident

I’d say voting is very important. There’s certain aspects of it that do feel sort of depressing, when you think about it, because a lot of people would say people voting normally wouldn’t matter because of a small majority in the Electoral College – their votes matter 100 times more than your own. That’s what it feels like at least from what I know. It does feel a little degrading knowing that’s going to happen.
Nivant Dawson | Business Major | Toledo Resident

I think voting is important, but I’m not exactly sure why it’s important. I mean, there’s a lot of things that come from it. You’re voting for someone that you’re putting your trust and you’re faith into to guide us all in the right direction, but we just all don’t know what that direction is yet. So, we’re just kind of free-balling it, in a way. So, I don’t know … I’ve never voted before but this will be interesting. I really don’t know what all is involved. I just have a lot to learn about voting – like what I should be looking for in the leader I’m going to be voting for. So, yeah, it’s coming up soon. There’s a lot to learn.
Sydney Stanley | Chemistry Major | Millbury Resident

Voting is very important, especially in this day and age, when everything’s going on.
David Chase III | Literature Major | Toledo Resident

Registration details

Ohio voters must be registered by 9 p.m. Oct. 7 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Residents can register to vote, look up voter registration, change their address, find an early voting location, look up Election Day polling location or track an absentee ballot at VoteOhio.gov.

Photo ID requirement

Bring your photo ID when voting. The options are:

- Current Ohio driver’s license or State of Ohio ID card.

- Interim ID form issued by Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

- U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.

A registered voter who has changed his or her name since the photo ID was issued will need to show proof of legal name change and sign a form. A photo ID card can show a former address if a current address is on file with the voting records. If you forget a photo ID, you can request a provisional ballot.

How to vote absentee

An absentee ballot in Ohio needs to be requested, signed, dated and submitted for each election. Military personnel and civilian overseas voters can file one application for all elections happening in a given year.

The application asks for the number on your Ohio driver’s license or Ohio ID card, last four digits of your social security number, or a photocopy of other eligible ID such as a U.S. passport or military ID.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and can be hand delivered to the Board of Elections on Nov. 5.

Additional instructions are on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

In-person early voting

Ohio’s in-person early voting season begins Oct. 8 and ends Nov. 3.

The Lucas County Early Vote Center is at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave. Suite 121 Entrance C (at the rear of the Lucas County Board of Elections building) in west Toledo.

Voting times and dates can be found at LucasCountyOhioVotes.gov.

Election Day voting

Polling sites are open in Ohio from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. You can look up your polling location at VoteOhio.Gov.

What’s on the ballot?

A “ballot proof” is available for review on the Lucas County Board of Elections page. It lists candidates and ballot issues by precinct, so voters know what to expect.

For example: Six president/vice president candidate teams have declared in Ohio, with an additional write-in option available. Other candidate races include U.S. Senator, Lucas County Sheriff and openings on Toledo City Council.

Ohio Issue 1 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that has gained a lot of attention. This issue, if approved, would designate a redistricting commission to draw state legislative and congressional districts.

There are other issues locally, such as a proposed bond issue for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library and a tax renewal request from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

Are ballot “selfies” allowed?

Ohio does not permit photos to be taken of a marked ballot. It’s actually a fifth-degree felony should that take place, according to Ohio law.

The “I Voted” Sticker

A traditionally popular way to showcase voter participation is through an “I voted” sticker, picked up on Election Day at the polling site.

Ohio’s current “I Voted” sticker design was adopted in 2019 through a student art contest. A red squiggle depicts a map of Ohio, nestled in a blue circle outline, with the phrase “Ohio Voted.”

Voters are invited to download the image to share on social media at the Ohio Secretary of State website. That website also has also a “future voter” coloring page for children available for download.

Is campaigning allowed at election sites?

Ohio does not allow election campaigning, also known as electioneering, within 100 feet of a voting site. This means no campaigning messages on attire such as shirts or hats, Monaco said.

Two small United States flags are placed at each voting site to designate the “neutral” zone where this applies.

Where is the Board of Elections office?

If you need to visit the Lucas County Board of Elections regarding a voting matter, that office moved about two years ago from its former location at One Government Center to 3737 W. Sylvania Road in West Toledo.

When are election numbers official?

Ballots cast on Election Day will be delivered in person to the Lucas County Board of Elections for the counting procedures.

There will be numbers reported after that count is complete.

The Ohio Secretary of State does not consider voter counts to be official until two or three weeks later, after provisional ballots are accounted for and to give time for absentee ballots to arrive that met the postmark deadline.

Strange Shapes at Maumee Indoor Theater

By

Mark Griffin

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October 5, 2026

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Strange-Shapes-One-Sheet-2.0_web-scaled — Strange Shapes movie poster. (Courtesy image)

TOLEDO – It was August last year when Ansley Hendrix got some exciting news.

“My mom was driving me home from the grocery store,” Hendrix recalled. “My twin sister, Maddie, sent me this post on Facebook from the National Federation of the Blind that said there was a casting call looking for a blind actress to star in a movie.”

Hendrix, 29, who recently moved from Atlanta to Charleston, S.C., was told the movie Strange Shapes would be filmed in Toledo, where she had never been.

“It was so incredibly fast how it all happened,” Hendrix said. “Of course, I had to do it. I auditioned with a self tape and enlisted the help of my friend Will from high school theater and found out I had a chemistry read. I ended up booking the role on that call. My family and I screamed like crazy people!”

Hendrix, who is legally blind, is a singer, dancer and songwriter. She made her musical theater debut at age 12 in Little Red Riding Hood – The Musical and has since appeared in The Sound of Music, Once on This Island, and Little Shop of Horrors.

“I was 12 when I was introduced to the musical Wicked by my best friend in middle school and I never looked back,” Hendrix said. “I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My twin sister is an opera singer with the most gorgeous soprano voice you’ve ever heard.”

Ansley Hendrix, 29, is the lead character and is legally blind. (Courtesy photo)

Getting the movie started

Strange Shapes tells the story of a blind woman who searches for her missing guide dog and begins to see unsettling entities that stalk her through the night.

The movie was filmed over 14 days from the end of September through mid-October in 2025. Locations included Glenwood Lutheran Church near the Toledo Museum of Art, around the shops in downtown Sylvania, and inside a residence in the Washington Local school district.

Timebomb Productions was the official studio behind the movie, in association with RAW Studios of Toledo. Samantha Ryan, an assistant director on the movie, is the CEO of RAW Studios, which specializes in the logistical side of creating cinema and photography services.

Strange Shapes was written, produced and directed by James Aponte.

“I met James through a recommendation from Film Commissioner Michael DeSanto,” said Ryan, 32, who lives just west of Toledo. “James was looking for a producer with experience in low-budget film making. Once we met, we knew we would make great business partners and could work together to bring Strange Shapes to life.”

(From left) Writer, producer, and director James Aponte; Ansley Hendrix (as Violet) and Justin Hogan (as Oscar).

Hendrix’s character, Violet, is the lead in the 70-minute horror film. Ryan said Hendrix nailed the part.

“We began our search through the Sight Center, which ultimately connected us with the National Federation of the Blind,” Ryan said. “Ansley submitted her experience and a tape for consideration, and we knew almost immediately she was perfect for the role of Violet.

“Ansley stepped right in and was an absolute shining light,” Ryan added. “The first scene we shot with her was a confrontation between Violet and Oscar, played by Justin Hogan, and she absolutely blew me away. She brought so much authenticity and emotion to the character right from the beginning.”

Hendrix said she arrived in Toledo a week before production started “to get the layout of my host family’s house and the Toledo Talent headquarters that acted as our rehearsal space.”

“I absolutely love Toledo,” she said. “There is such wonderful culture, and the people are so kind.”

Ryan said what she loves most about Strange Shapes is the opportunity she got to meet and work with Hendrix.

“It was incredibly enlightening to work with such a remarkable person and to learn how we could make the filmmaking process more accessible for her, while also showing the world what authentic representation can look like,” Ryan said. “Working with Ansley has been a really meaningful experience for me, both professionally and personally.”

Hendrix’s character, **Violet**, is the lead in the 70-minute horror film. (Courtesy photo)

Toledo-area native writer/producer/director

Aponte, 33, a Sylvania Northview graduate, majored in film and video at The University of Toledo. He said he began writing the Strange Shapes script in October of 2024 and finished in March of 2025.

“Looking back, I can say I was definitely influenced by The Evil Dead films, the Alien movie franchise, and Halloween (1978),” Aponte said. “I originally wanted to be a writer. When the Alien quadrilogy was released, I made a life-changing discovery: I learned that James Cameron was not only the director of Aliens, but he was the writer as well.

“Suddenly, everything changed. I thought, ‘Wait, I can make what I write real? I’m going to do that!’ I’ve wanted to be a filmmaker ever since eighth grade.”

(From left) James Aponte, Samantha Ryan and cinematographer Austin Mosher. (Courtesy photo)

Aponte said he got the idea for Strange Shapes after watching a blind YouTuber who was asked, if he could have surgery that would enable him to see, would he go through with it?

“That question made me put myself in his shoes,” Aponte said. “I concluded that if I had been blind since birth, the ability to suddenly see would be one of the most terrifying experiences I could imagine. It would completely change my interaction with and perception of the world.

“Then I thought, ‘What if I was blind from birth and suddenly saw something that was truly terrifying? And what if that was the only thing I could see?’ And so, Strange Shapes was born to explore this unsettling scenario.”

Aponte has done several short films that can be viewed on his website, jamesaponte.com. He said he is “immensely proud” of Strange Shapes.

“Everyone’s talent and skill that was poured into this film really shines through, and that’s always something to be proud of,” Aponte said. “It’s hard making movies. To make one, especially at the ultra indie level, is an accomplishment anyone should be proud of.”

A still from Strange Shapes featuring the clawed hand. (Courtesy photo)

Facing challenges as a legally blind performer

Hendrix was asked how she has faced and overcome being blind as a member of the show business profession.

“As a blind person, particularly in the visual performing arts like acting and dance, I face a lot of challenges,” Hendrix said. “Mainly with people understanding and accepting me in an industry that is often perceived as visual.

“I loved this movie because it showed a side of blindness that people don’t get to see. We are so often portrayed as disabled people who need help, but we are strong, independent individuals who are perfectly capable of living successful lives.”

Strange Shapes premieres at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:45 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Maumee Indoor Theater, with a cast/producer Q&A to follow. It will continue playing on the remaining Fridays in October. The one minute, 15-second movie trailer can be seen here.

Charrette invites AW community to brainstorm together

By

Karen Gerhardinger

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October 5, 2026

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hope church — Hope United Methodist Church, located just west of the Whitehouse Fire Station, is inviting the community to brainstorm on how to utilize its facilities and five acres of undeveloped land to serve everyone in the area. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Hope United Methodist Church is asking Anthony Wayne-area residents to help imagine what its next chapter could look like – not only for the congregation, but for the wider community.

During an Oct. 8-10 Anthony Wayne Community Charrette, Hope will invite neighbors, civic leaders, nonprofit partners and local organizations to help identify needs and explore possibilities for the church’s existing campus and five acres of adjacent undeveloped land in Whitehouse.

“We want to do something new and good for the community,” said Pastor Warren Clifton, explaining that the charrette process was intentionally selected in order to get input from throughout the AW area.

A charrette is an intensive, collaborative planning process that brings together community members, organizations, leaders and design professionals to listen carefully, identify shared needs, generate practical ideas, and develop a vision for action, he said. The charrette will begin with listening: What does the Anthony Wayne community need? Which needs are already being met well? Where are the gaps? And what role, if any, could Hope’s campus play?

“We do not want to begin with a predetermined answer,” Clifton said. “It could involve space for older adults, support for food access, recreation, gathering or something we have not yet imagined. We want to listen, learn and have that conversation together.”

Holly Madill, PhD, the director of the National Charrette Institute from Michigan State University, works with many organizations, including the U.S. Navy. She’s always surprised at the ideas that come out of the process.

“There is something about bringing people together in this way that unleashes creativity and possibility to explore ideas we hadn’t thought of or ideas used in ways we hadn’t thought of,” said Madill, who will facilitate the charrette. The Buehrer Group will translate the input from the workshop into preliminary concepts and a planning framework.

The charrette begins with a Thursday, Oct. 8 community workshop, held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the church, 10610 Waterville St. in Whitehouse. The Buehrer Group will take ideas from the workshop and refine them into several alternatives, which will be presented during an open house on Friday, Oct. 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the church’s gymnasium. Participants will have an opportunity to review the concepts, respond and provide additional feedback. Further refinements will be presented during a review session on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary.

Hope United Methodist Church owns five acres of undeveloped land to the northeast of its existing building – land that has potential to fill a community need.

Those interested in participating do not need to be members of the church or have any design or planning experience.

“Their lived experiences are all the expertise that we need,” Clifton said.

Serving the community has been at the heart of Hope since it opened its campus in 1956, and the spaces have transformed to meet those needs, including children and families, recreation, service, fellowship, learning and community organizations. The charrette invites everyone to imagine what the community could be, then explore how Hope’s property, facilities, ministries and partnerships might contribute to that future, Clifton explained.

In the weeks leading up to the charrette, Madill has been having conversations with community leaders, to gain insight in how to structure the process. In the past month, Hope has also been paving the way for open conversation by hosting Julie Carter, director of faith formation and lay ministries for the Western Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, for Fear + Less Conversations.

“It’s all about the fears that stifle conversations, and how we engage in conversation with each other on a daily basis,” Carter said.

The five fears that get in the way of speaking opening and honestly including: fear of the unknown, fear of strangers, fear of appearing ignorant, fear of oppressive systems and fear of ‘plopping’ – of throwing an idea out that gets no response, she said.

To help participants get over those fears, Carter asks them to ask themselves hard questions, such as: Who am I? Who is my neighbor? Why am I here? And what is my legacy? She also gives out homework, like, “Go out in the community and talk to people you don’t usually talk to.”

In the six years that Carter has been leading these conversations, she’s found that many of her students have learned to stop and listen to what the other person is saying instead of immediately formulating an answer.

“It’s about being present in the conversation in the moment,” she said.

No matter what the outcome of the charrette process, Carter said she hopes Fear + Less and the community conversations held during the charrette days will foster relationships in a country where a loneliness epidemic seems to be growing. Clifton agrees.

“At Hope, we are undertaking this process because we want to discern how our church can serve the people and neighborhoods of the Anthony Wayne community more faithfully,” Clifton said. “That means listening especially for the needs of neighbors who may be isolated, grieving, caring for family members, facing financial pressure, experiencing food or housing insecurity, living with illness, or simply lacking a place to belong.”

Toledo Free Press Voter’s Guide: 2026 General Election

By

Toledo Free Press

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October 4, 2026

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The midterm general election is fast approaching, with early voting beginning on Oct. 3 and Election Day coming up on Nov. 3. For those who haven’t already, it’s time to familiarize yourself with what is on the ballot. Our Toledo Free Press Voter’s Guide covers statewide elections, as well as those specific to Lucas County. We do not cover any other county elections at this time, though we will be expanding in future election years to cover more.

This guide is updated frequently through Election Day, so make sure to check in for links to new stories, updates on campaigns, and more.

Below you’ll find a description of the candidates, what the role entails, and linked resources to learn even more about those candidates. The Voter’s Guide is constantly growing up until election day as we cover the candidates and ballot issues, so make sure to refer to it often as you consider how to cast your vote this election.

Statewide candidates

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

The governor is the chief executive of the state. Their powers and/or responsibilities include managing state departments, cabinet members, agencies, and state military forces; proposing the state budget; signing/vetoing bills passed by the Ohio General Assembly; convening and adjourning legislatures; and the ability to pardon criminal convictions.

The lieutenant governor serves as successor if the governor can no longer serve. Their powers and/or responsibilities also include representing the governor at meetings as needed, leading major departments as needed, and generally carrying out executive orders from the governor and what is mandated by state law.

Amy Acton and David Pepper (Democratic)

Quick facts about Amy Acton:

Relevant experience:

-Served as Director of the Ohio Department of Public Health from 2019-2020

-Graduated Northeast Ohio Medical University
-Master’s in Public Health from The Ohio State University
Website: actonforgovernor.com

Quick facts about David Pepper:

– Served as Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015-2021

– Ran for Ohio Attorney General, lost to Mike DeWine (R), Pepper received 38.5 percent of the vote
– Ran for Ohio Auditor; lost to Dave Yost (R), Pepper received 44.9 percent of the vote
Websites: davidpepper.com and actonforgovernor.com
Learn more about Acton and Pepper here.

Amy Acton is the democratic nominee for Ohio governor. (Courtesy photo)

Don Kissick and James L. Mills (Libertarian)

Quick facts about Don Kissick:

– Has served as County Development Coordinator for the Libertarian Party of Ohio since 2018
– Ran for United States Senate in Ohio in 2024 and lost to Bernie Moreno (R); Kissick received 3.4 percent of the vote.
– Ran for Ohio’s 5th Congressional District in 2018 and lost to Bob Latta (R); Kissick received 2.6 percent of the vote.
Website: donkissick.com
Quick facts about James L. Mills:
– Has served as vice chair for a third party political party for Ohio and Warren County since 2024
– Has served as brokerage director at Brokerage Solutions since 2025
– Co-founded Mills Residential, a construction company, with his brother in 2018
Website: donkissick.com
Learn more about Kissick and Mills here.

Don Kissick is the libertarian candidate for governor. (Courtesy photo)

Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley (Republican)

Quick facts about Vivek Ramaswamy:

– Vivek Ramaswamy ran as a presidential candidate in the Republican Primary 2023-2024, but lost the primary to current President Donald Trump.
– Ramaswamy was part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Elon Musk, before stepping down from his role there to pursue the Ohio Governor’s race.
– Trump endorsed Ramaswamy for the Ohio Governor.
Website: vivekforohio.com
Quick facts about Robert A. McColley:
– Since 2017, he has served as State Senator for Ohio Senate’s 1st Senate District including Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Williams Counties and parts of Auglaize, Fulton and Logan Counties.
– From 2015-2017, he served as State Representative for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 81st district, which includes Henry, Putnam, Williams, and part of Fulton Counties.
– Co-sponsored Senate Bill 23, which prohibited abortion after the detection of a heartbeat. [6] Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed SB 23 on April 11, 2019.

Vivek Ramaswamy is the republican candidate for governor. (Courtesy photo)

Write-in Candidates

Tim Grady and Andrea Neutzling (Independent)

Quick facts about Tim Grady:

– Served as chair of the Ohio Forward Party
– Was the Libertarian nominee for state representative of Richland County in 2018
– Working toward his MA in Public Administration at Ohio State University, Glenn College of Public Affairs
Website: timgradyforohio.com
Quick facts about Andrea Neutzling:
– Served in the Army as an active duty Intelligence Analyst at Camp Essayons, South Korea, and Fort Gordon, GA from 2001-2004
– Currently serving as District Senior Vice Commander at VFW District 12
– After serving in Iraq and being exposed to the Burn Pit on Camp Bucca Iraq, she advocate with others to get the PACT Act passed in 2022
Website: timgradyforohio.com

Tim Grady is an independent write-in candidate running for governor. (Courtesy photo)

Heather Hill and Patrick Manley (Republican)

*Though Ohio write-in candidate Heather Hill was disqualified on April 22 after her running mate, Stuart Moats, dropped out as her running mate, she reentered the race on June 10 with a new running mate, Patrick Manley.

Quick facts about Heather Hill:

– Was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2023 to serve on the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission
– Described on her campaign website as “the only gubernatorial candidate who has actively protested for the last 25 years to end abortions throughout the United States.”
– Formed a branch of the Morgan County Martin Luther King Scholarship Foundation, where she served as president from 2005 – 2013
Website: heatherhillohio.com
Quick facts about Patrick Manley:
– Has worked as an adjunct instructor in the Construction Sciences Department at Columbus State Community College for more than 20 years
-Has served for more than 20 years on the board of directors for Dave Fox Design Build
– Served a 10-year term as president of the Ohio Chapter of the Association of Licensed Architects
Website: heatherhillohio.com

Heather Mills is a write-in candidate for Ohio governor (republican). (Courtesy photo)

Renea Turner and Jalen Turner (Independent, Republican Party)

Renea Turner is a write-in candidate (independent, Republican Party) running for Ohio governor. (Courtesy photo)

Ron Ula and Michael Lehnerd (Independent)

U.S. Senator

Senate terms last six years with elections being staggered so that no two U.S. senators in Ohio are seeking election at the same time. This year, Sherrod Brown (D) is facing incumbent Senator Jon Husted (R). U.S. Senators’ roles are legislative, meaning they are responsible for proposing and voting on federal bills. They are also charged with approving U.S. presidential appointments (cabinet members), convicting or exonerating impeachment cases, and can approve or reject treaties. The U.S. Senates is the upper house of Congress.

Sherrod Brown (Democratic)

Sherrod Brown. (Official U.S. Senate photo by Rebecca Hammel)

Quick facts about Sherrod Brown:

– Ran in the General Election for U.S. Senate for Ohio in 2024 and lost to Bernie Moreno (R). Brown received 46.5 percent of the vote.
– Served as Ohio U.S. Senator from 2007-2024
– Served as a U.S. Congressman from 1993-2007
Website: sherrodbrown.com
Learn more about Brown here.

Jon Husted (Republican)

Quick facts about Jon Husted:

– Has served as Ohio U.S. Senator since 2025. Appointed by Mike DeWine to replace J.D. Vance, as Vance took on his new role as Vice President of the United States.
– Served as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio from 2019-2025
– Served as Ohio Secretary Of State from 2011-2019
Website: husted.senate.gov
Learn more about Husted here.

• Gregory Levy (Independent)

Gregory Levy (Independent). (Courtesy photo)

Quick facts about Gregory Levy:

– A member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)
– Military veteran
– A community organizer from Akron
Website: greg4senate.com

William B. Redpath (Libertarian)

Quick facts about William Redpath:

– Ran for Illinois U.S. Senate in 2022. Redpath received 1.7 percent of the vote and lost to Tammy Duckworth (D).
– Ran for U.S. House to represent Illinois’s 6th District in 2020. Redpath received 1.7 percent of the vote and lost to Sean Casten (D).
– Ran for the U.S. House to represent Virginia’s District 10 in 2014. Redpath received 1.5 percent of the vote and lost to Barbara Comstock (R).
Website: b illredpath.com
Learn more about Redpath here.

Attorney General

The attorney general serves as the primary legal counsel for the state of Ohio. The position supports law enforcement, consumers, and heads up the following divisions under the Attorney General’s office: antitrust, appeals, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, charitable law, civil rights, collections enforcement, constituent services, constitutional offices, consumer protection, court of claims defense, crime victim services, criminal justice, education, employment law, environmental enforcement, executive agencies, health & human services, health care fraud, Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, policy and legislation, public utilities, special prosecutions, taxation, and workers’ compensation. Read more about the specifics of these AGO sections here.

Keith Faber (Republican)

Quick facts about Keith Faber:

– Has served as Ohio’s Auditor of State since 2019.
– Served as Ohio’s U.S. Congressman representing District 84 from 2016-2018.
– Served in the Ohio State Senate representing District 12 from 2007-2016.
Website: keithfaber.org

John J. Kulewicz (Democratic)

John Kulewicz (left) was interviewed by Jaden Jefferson in late May. (TFP photo by Jaden Jefferson)

Quick facts about John J. Kulewicz:

– 44-year member of the Columbus law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, where he argued cases against the U.S. Supreme court and other state courts.
– Wrote An Ohioan’s Odyssey: Lessons in Leadership, Law, and Public Service
– Currently serving his second term on City Council for Upper Arlington.

Website: john4ohioag.com

Learn more about him in TFP’s coverage here.

Auditor of State

• Annette Blackwell (Democratic)

• Frank LaRose (Republican)

Secretary of State

• Tom Pruss (Libertarian)

• Allison Russo (Democratic)
• Robert Sprague (Republican)

Treasurer of State

• Jay Edwards (Republican)
• Seth Walsh (Democratic)

Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (Term commencing Jan. 1, 2027)

• Daniel R. Hawkins (Republican)

• Marilyn Zayas (Democratic)

Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (Term commencing Jan. 2, 2027)

• Jennifer Brunner (Democratic)

• Colleen O’Donnell (Republican)

LUCAS COUNTY

U.S. Representative – 9th District

• Matthew Althaus (Libertarian)

• Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)

• Derek Merrin (Republican)

State Senator – 11th District

• Paula Hicks-Hudson (Democratic)

• Kenneth W. Sharp (Libertarian)

• James Nowak (Republican)

State Representative – 41st District

• Ian Chamberlain (Republican)

• Erika White (Democratic – Write-In)

State Representative – 42nd District

• Elgin Rogers Jr. (Democratic)

• Robert McMahon (Republican – Write-In)

State Representative – 43rd District

• Michele Grim (Democratic)

• Zach Hall (Libertarian)

• David Karmol (Republican)

State Representative – 44th District

• David J. Fournier (Democratic)

• Edward L. Schimmel (Republican)

Court of Common Pleas – Domestic Relations

• Lisa D. McGowan (Republican)

• Nedal Adya (Democratic – Write-In)

Court of Common Pleas – Probate

• Tom Puffenberger (Democratic)

• Jaime Agnew (Republican)

Court of Appeals – 6th District

• Myron C. Duhart (Democratic)

• Michael R. Goulding (Republican)

• CJ Kamm (Republican)

Lucas County Commissioner

• Lisa A. Sobecki (Democratic)

• Brenden Johnson (Libertarian – Write-In)

• Laura Brown (Republican – Write-In)

Lucas County Auditor (Vote for 1)

• Katie Moline (Democratic)

• Carolyn Munn (Republican – Write-In)

Filing deadlines for local elections begin in February

By

Karen Gerhardinger

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October 3, 2026

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pexels-sora-shimazaki-5926417 — Pexels photo by Sora Shimazaki.

Ready for the elections? Sure, early voting for the Nov. 3 Election Day starts on Oct. 6, but deadlines to file for the May 2027 election are not far off. And there are several positions on the ballot, especially in Waterville and Whitehouse, where council members have been appointed since the last municipal election. The Lucas County Board of Elections shared these upcoming deadlines.

In Waterville, the deadline to file for five council seats and mayor is Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 4 p.m. Mayor Tim Pedro is term limited and cannot run for a third term. Rod Frey, Scott Jahns and Nick Sargent were appointed after the last election and need to rerun to fill the two-year, unexpired terms. Seats held by Todd Borowski and Wayne Wagner are also expiring at the end of 2027, along with the mayor’s position. These are four-year terms.

In Whitehouse, the filing deadline to run for council and mayor is Friday, March 5 at 4 p.m. to qualify for the May 4 primary. The four-year seats held by Dave Riggenbach and Carrie Tuohy – who were elected in November 2023 – will be on the ballot. So will unexpired, 2-year terms for two members were were appointed within the past month: Nikki Hartbarger and Jake Heilmann.

Wednesday, Aug. 4 is the deadline for candidates to file to run for local township offices and school boards, as these will not be part of the May primary. Anthony Wayne Board of Education seats currently held by Jeff Baden, Lindsay Hoipkemeir, Mike Stamm and Amy Barrett – who was appointed in January to fill a vacated position – will be on the ballot.

In Providence Township, positions currently held by Trustee Jeremiah Floyd and Fiscal Officer Julie Ludwig will be on the ballot. In Monclova Township, one four-year seat held by Chuck Hoecherl will be open. And in Waterville Township, seats held by Trustee Julie Theroux and Fiscal Officer Jeanne Taylor will be on the ballot.

Upcoming Toledo Area Events

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Press Release

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October 2, 2026

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pexels-kelly-28844409 — Pexels photo by Kelly.

(All events are compiled from press releases and other public announcements)

The Toledo area always has something going on, from live shows and family-friendly activities to protests and community meetings. Here are some of the events to check out. If you have something you’d like us to consider adding, please reach out!

Saturday, Oct. 3 – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Dundee DDA Presents the 9^th Annual Pumpkin Palooza/ Great Pumpkin Commonwealth Certified Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off. The weigh-off will be held in the Municipal Parking Lot on the north side of the River Raisin, just across the river from the Old Mill Museum. These pumpkins can weigh well over 1,500 pounds!

Visitors can also expect to see an assortment of impressive giant produce, including watermelons, squash, long gourds, mammoth tomatoes, towering cornstalks, and enormous sunflowers. Registration for growers and items being weighed will take place from 9 – 10:30 a.m., with the official Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off beginning promptly at 11 a.m. Ample off-site parking will be available throughout Dundee.

FREE family fun begins at 10 a.m. with pumpkin carving, a vendor and craft show, Black Swamp Ghostbusters, a balloonist, a Meet & Greet with Bluey & Stitch, and more!

Saturday, Oct. 3 – Levis Commons Town Center invites the community to its Pink Party from noon – 2 p.m. in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The FREE event includes live music, mocktails, nail painting, balloon twisting, face painting, friendship bracelet making and giveaways, and will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in its efforts to support those in the community impacted by breast cancer. Come early for an outdoor Pilates class led by instructors from Body Alive at 11 a.m. outside Yankee Candle. Participation is available with a suggested $10 donation.

Wednesday, Oct. 14 – At 7:30 p.m., the Music Business Technology students from Owens Community College present the first performance of the 11^th Annual, 2026-27, Accent on the Arts concerts, featuring Warren & Flick. Jacob Warren plays double and tenor bass and Grant Flick plays violin, tenor guitar, and nyckelharpa, drawing from classical, jazz, and folk traditions. Learn more about them at WarrenandFlick.com.

Accent on the Arts is a FREE concert series designed, booked, promoted, and presented by Music Business Technology students. The concert will be at the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Owens Community College Toledo Campus, 7270 Biniker Rd., Perrysburg.

Thursday, Oct. 15 – the Lucas SWCD is offering Vermicomposting 101 Class at 5:30 p.m. Registered participants will learn about composting, how to compost using worms, and leave with a vermicomposting tub and starter pack of worms to take home. The class is $50 per participant and space is limited. Register online at LucasSWCD.org/vermicomposting.

Thursday, Oct. 15 – Sunday, Oct. 18 – North American Tour launch of THE BODYGUARD at The Stranahan Theater (4645 Heatherdowns Blvd.). Purchase tickets at BroadwayInToledo.com and StranahanTheater.com. Group ticket savings for 10+ are available by contacting [email protected]. Ticket prices vary by showtime and seating.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Thursday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 & 6:30 p.m.

Based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD is a thrilling, romantic musical that combines high-stakes suspense with unforgettable music. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Both expect to be in charge of their situation – what they don’t expect is to fall in love. Read more about the show in David Yonke‘s TFP article here.

Friday, Oct. 16 – Party in the Park (Promenade Park) – From 6-9:30 p.m., enjoy Party in the Park on the Road in Uptown District featuring Funk Factory & Not Fast Enuff.

Saturday, Oct. 17 – Lucas County Children’s Services Trunk or Treat will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the Believe Center (1 Aurora Gonzalez Dr.). At this FREE event, kids can enjoy receiving free candy and seeing mascots and costumed characters.

Friday, Oct 16 – Sunday, Oct. 18 – The Toledo Opera presents Aida by Giuseppe Verdi at the Valentine Theatre. Torn between love and duty, Aida stands at the center of a tempest of passion, loyalty, and impossible choices. Captive in ancient Egypt, the Ethiopian Princess must navigate her love for the heroic Radamès, her devotion to her homeland, and the schemes of the jealous Princess Amneris. Toledo Opera’s original production brings Verdi’s unforgettable arias, soaring duets, and breathtaking choruses to life, immersing audiences in a story of desire, sacrifice, and destiny.

Tickets can be purchased at toledoopera.org or by phone at 419-255-7464. To learn more about the season, visit toledoopera.org. Read more about the productions in a behind-the-scenes TFP story here.

Sung in Italian with English Captions

Friday, Oct. 23 – Anne Grady Services and Courageous Community Services host Enchanted Evening, creating opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. The event will be held at Parkway Place, 2592 Parkway Plaza, Maumee, from 6 – 9 p.m. Guests will enjoy dinner and a live and silent auction, all while supporting the programs and services that support individuals with disabilities. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased here.

Tuesday, Oct. 27 – As a part of International Bat Week, Lucas SWCD in partnership with Inspired Lumber Workshop is hosting a Build a Bat House Workshop from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Participants will learn the value of bats, bust some myths, and build a bat house to take home and install on their property. Space is limited! Register online here.

Thursday, Nov. 5 – Lucas SWCD’s 62nd Annual Meeting – Lott Industries in Toledo. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at LucasSWCD.org/annual-meeting.

Thursday, Nov. 12 – Lucas SWCD invites all to a Seed Bombs and Pollinators class! Participants will learn about the power of pollinators through fun, interactive activities, and get to make a native seed bomb to take home and plant! Class is from 4-5:30 p.m. Register online here.

H.M.S. Pinafore by Arthur Sullivan & W.S. Gilbert

February 19 & 21, 2027

Valentine Theatre

After more than four decades, H.M.S. Pinafore returns to Toledo Opera, bringing Gilbert & Sullivan’s signature wit, music, and high-seas hijinks to life. Onboard, the captain’s daughter Josephine hopes for love with the humble sailor Ralph Rackstraw, despite her father’s plans to marry her to the pompous Sir Joseph Porter. Mischievous sailors, scheming relatives, and the bumbling Little Buttercup, whose long-held secret turns everything upside down, ensure laughter, surprises, and joyous music throughout. This original production combines rousing choruses, clever wordplay, and unforgettable characters for an evening of nautical fun the whole family will enjoy.

Tickets can be purchased at toledoopera.org or by phone at 419-255-7464. To learn more about the season, visit toledoopera.org. Read more about the productions in a behind-the-scenes TFP story here.

Wild Side: Ready for the rut

By

Art Weber

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October 2, 2026

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WhitetailBuck-SC-008-dn — A whitetail buck. (Photo by Art Weber, nature photographer for Metroparks Toledo)

The shortening days trigger change for our male whitetail deer. It’s time for the males – the bucks – to shed the soft velvet that’s nurtured antler growth through the summer months and start showing off their stuff.

With the velvet gone, the bone-hard antlers are ready to be strutted to impress the does, to rub trees and shrubs to mark territory, and to battle any rival bucks that challenge their turf. No two sets of antlers are created equal. Larger and more intricately branched antlers signal dominance and are favored over challengers in battle. They’re also said to show strength and strong genetics to impress the does.

Waterville, Metroparks team up on inclusive playground

By

Karen Gerhardinger

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October 2, 2026

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This conceptual rendering of an inclusive playground shows how the equipment and the setting is designed for use by children and families of all abilities. The Metroparks and the city of Waterville are teaming up to build an inclusive playground in Farnsworth Metropark by Spring 2028. (Courtesy rendering)

WATERVILLE – What started as a request for a single swing has evolved into plans for an entire playground that will serve children of all abilities.

When Haley Voigt saw that her daughter, who is on the autism spectrum, wasn’t able to fully enjoy her visits to the playground, the Waterville resident asked Mayor Tim Pedro if the city would install a swing with a back and a buckle in one of the local parks.

Within a few months, a swing was added to Conrad Park, but Pedro took it a step further, forming an ad hoc committee – with Voigt’s involvement – that would look into funding and building an inclusive playground somewhere in the city.

Two years later, Voigt is now celebrating the recent announcement that Waterville and Metroparks Toledo are teaming up to build an estimated $1.1 million inclusive playground on the site of an existing play area at Farnsworth Metropark.

“I really started this for my family. As a parent, you want to give them everything so they will thrive,” Voigt said of her children, Joan and Henry. “This all started as an act of love from a mother to her kids. And now everyone else benefits from it.”

Pulling up a presentation on his laptop during the Sept. 28 Waterville City Council meeting, Metroparks Chief External Relations Officer Matt Killam shared conceptual renderings of a playground designed for universal access: wheelchair-accessible play equipment with transfer-accessible options; sensory play, including tactile, auditory and visual; a layout that lets every ability play side by side; sheltered, quiet spaces for visitors with sensory sensitivities; unitary poured-in-place surfacing without curbs, stairs or barriers; and an ADA restroom and expanded ADA parking. It’s a plan that meets the needs of not just the children, but the families who want to play alongside them or watch comfortably nearby, Voigt said.

The existing equipment was due for replacement in five years, but the timeline was moved up to meet the needs outlined by the Inclusive Playground Committee and to mark the Metroparks’ Centennial in 2028, Killam said. He expects a groundbreaking later this fall, with a spring 2028 completion.

With the Metroparks in the midst of upgrading all of its facilities over the next several years – including Farnsworth Metropark – it only made sense to work together to bring the park to fruition, Killam told council. A memorandum of understanding between the Metroparks and Waterville will be among the documentation shared as the Metroparks apply for a $500,000 Land and Water Conservation Grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. If the grant is awarded, it would cover nearly half of the cost, Killam said.

The Metroparks have already invested into a topographic survey, conceptual site plan, and equipment and design rendering. In total, the Metroparks are expected to invest nearly $850,000 in cash, in-kind and ongoing maintenance, he said, and this is committed regardless of the result of any capital campaigns.

Both the Metroparks and the city will share responsibility for fundraising, and both Voigt and Pedro are confident in bringing in what’s needed to support the project. When she initially began looking at the park, Voigt called her uncle Vince DiPofi, CEO of the engineering firm SSOE, for ideas and connections. DiPofi was the first donor to a fund held by the Greater Toledo Community Foundation for the project. Of the 50 potential donors identified, 10 have been contacted and all agreed to support the project at some level, Pedro added.

The mayor credits the work of the committee, which includes Voigt, Dawn Bentley, David Vrooman, Steve Schult and Jennifer Van Horn – a Waterville resident who is also chief planning officer for the Metroparks.

Having Van Horn on the committee was an asset, as she is not only a Waterville resident but understands the needs of both the Metroparks and the city, Voigt said. Getting the Metroparks to collaborate on the project was always the most ideal scenario, although the committee looked at other sites within the city parks, she said.

“This is what the Metroparks do: they know how to maintain the equipment and the grounds,” Voigt added.

Farnsworth has an estimated 100,000 visitors a year, and Killam expects that an accessible playground will attract whole families, who will enjoy playing on a site with parking, restrooms, seating and a shelter – all with a view of the Maumee River. In addition to serving families whose children have differing abilities, Pedro sees an additional benefit.

“This is more than building a play structure for kids. It’s a way to teach kids at a young age to play with kids of all abilities,” Pedro said.

Inclusive playgrounds also provide a benefit to the surrounding communities, as families come to town for the playground then stay for a meal, ice cream, gas and shopping, Voigt added.

Killam agreed.

“We want to make this a destination for many people,” Killam said.

Waterville City Council: Flock cameras, ebikes, & bridge progress

By

Karen Gerhardinger

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October 2, 2026

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WATERVILLE – Flock Safety cameras, ebikes, the Roche de Boeuf Interurban bridge and a zoning change to expand Farnsworth Industrial Park were among the topics discussed during the Sept. 28 Waterville City Council meeting. So was a memorandum of understanding with Metroparks Toledo to build an inclusive playground in Farnsworth Metropark.

Flock cameras

After learning that Toledo City Council requested an independent audit of its Flock Safety cameras to evaluate how data from the license plate readers is stored and shared, Whitehouse resident John Neff came to the meeting to urge that Waterville do the same.

“I am not anti-technology. I am not anti-police. And I am not anti-public safety,” Neff said. “Having seamless access to the movements of residents can be a powerful tool for law enforcement. But the ability to retroactively search where people have been, who they were near, and how often they travel certain routes – all without probable cause or a warrant – fundamentally changes the relationship between citizens and their government.”

He pointed out that the city doesn’t require third-party safety testing before deploying software that tracks citizens. Eventually, there will be one on every road, making it difficult to leave home without having movements being “recorded, analyzed and categorized,” Neff said.

“The intent behind municipal cameras might be different, but the everyday effect on residents is exactly the same,” he said. “Waterville should feel welcoming. Right now, it feels watched. It feels monitored, and it feels uncomfortably close to a system designed for containment rather than community.”

Council did not comment on Neff’s request, but Police Chief Joe Valvano, responding to previous comments about Flock cameras, submitted to council a Sept. 25 report on the department’s use of five cameras in the city – one of which was damaged and awaiting replacement.

In the report, Valvano said he’s aware of, and understands, the concerns that community members have about Flock Safety cameras, but that some of the information shared online has resulted in misunderstandings of the purpose, capabilities and use by Waterville Police Department.

“The system is intended as an investigative and public safety tool, not as a means of routinely monitoring law-abiding residents,” Valvano stressed.

Flock Safety cameras are not continuous video surveillance systems, nor do they identify people inside the vehicle or the speed it is traveling, he said. The cameras capture still images of vehicles as they pass these five locations, recording the vehicle’s license plate number, make, model, color and other characteristics such as bumper stickers or damage. These are details that can be seen by anyone standing on a public street; a Flock camera simply provides a limited still photograph, Valvano said.

Later, Valvano said he’s had just a few questions from the public, although he acknowledged that he sees comments online. He encouraged anyone with questions to contact him at 419-878-8184 and to view a portal at transparency.flocksafety.com.

E-Bikes

After hearing residents complain about riders on e-bikes speeding, running stop signs and even riding through Kroger one night this summer, council members are asking Valvano what can be done to address the issue.

Officers have spent the summer stopping young riders and educating them on the rules of the road for ebikes, Valvano said.

“We don’t want to be heavy-handed. We’re trying to make contact in a polite way,” Valvano said.

But with continued complaints about ebike users not obeying traffic laws, he’s set up a meeting next week with police chiefs from Whitehouse, Holland and Ottawa Hills, as well as prosecutors to discuss ideas – including the possibility of civil citations – to get a handle on an issue that is also being discussed at the state level. He’s hoping to have options to present to council within the next few months, with a goal of having something in place when more riders are back on the road, shared use paths and sidewalks again in the spring.

Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge

Since July, Kokosing has been carefully removing dirt and pieces of the 118-year-old Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge, with the goal of keeping the arches intact for a future bike and pedestrian bridge to be suspended over the top, connecting Waterville to Wood County.

A Sept. 18 Rock de Boeuf concert raised more than $3,000 for the Save the Bridge Association (STBA) to help the city in paying for historic bridge engineer Bill Vermes and hiring professional grant writers, said STBA member Rex Childers.

Vermes recently conducted tests on four of the most vulnerable looking arches and determined that they average 6,000 psi (pounds per square inch) – much higher than expected. Kokosing operators will be working on removing more of the side walls in precision work once the causeway, which was underwater last week, has areas filled in.

STBA is now preparing for another fundraiser on Nov. 14. More details will be coming soon, Childers said.

Historic bridge engineer Bill Vermes inspects a section of the Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge. (Courtesy photo by Rex Childers).

Farnsworth Business Park

Waterville City Council formally approved the annexation of 50 acres of land into the city from Waterville Township, with all members but Wayne Wagner voting yes. The land, owned by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, is on the south side of Neapolis-Waterville Road and adjacent to 100 acres of Port-owned land in Farnsworth Business Park.

“This is an opportunity that only comes along in decades,” said Administrator Jon Gochenour, explaining that the land will be where the city grows financially. As business and industry locate in the park, that further reduces the burden on residential taxpayers to cover city services, he said.

Gochenour said that 74 percent of the city’s tax base comes from nonresidential sources, including manufacturers in the business park. The township has a tax-sharing agreement with the city and, in 2025, received $132,372 from the city.

“As this property develops, it will only increase property sharing to the township,” Gochenour said.

The Port also requested a zoning change for 8451 and 8551 Neapolis-Waterville Rd. from Agricultural to Light Industrial District (M-1). This was referred to the Planning Commission for review on Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.

Farnsworth Industrial Park now includes another 150 acres owned by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, after the city approved the annexation of an additional 50 acres from Waterville Township. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

During the meeting, council also:

-Heard resident Terri Massucci ask about the pedestrian crossing sign on Waterville Monclova at Pray Boulevard, as it only has a flashing light on one side. Gochenour said the existing light meets ODOT standards, but he will look into options for upgrading the light.

-Listened to Waterville United Methodist Church member Laurie Schofield outline plans for a Saturday, Oct. 10 Community Fall Festival, which will be held at 7115 Waterville Monclova Rd. and the fire station from noon to 4 p.m. The free event will include food trucks, crafts, games, music, a trunk-or-treat and bounce houses, as well as first responders from Waterville, Waterville Township and Ohio Highway Patrol. Weather permitting, helicopters from Mercy and ProMedica will land in the lawn, and Perrysburg Police will bring their K9 unit for demonstrations.

-Shared that the citywide bulk pickup is Saturday, Oct. 10 beginning at 7 a.m.

-Heard that the Christmas celebration is planned for Saturday, Dec. 5 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in downtown Waterville.

-Learned that Waterville will host the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the fire department, 751 Waterville Monclova Rd., in order to provide a drive-thru for residents to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

-Heard that police officer Wyatt Saylor was chosen to represent northwest Ohio on the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police Community Relations and Engagement Committee.

-Heard that a group of educators is interested in installing a bench in Waterville to honor the late David Hillborn, who served as principal of Waterville Primary School from 1972-1996.

-Set a Fallen Timbers Cemetery District joint meeting for Monday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. in council chambers to appoint a new member from Whitehouse.

-Authorized Gochenour to work with Proudfoot Associates on engineering services for the Waterville Historical Society parking lot project. An $85,000 grant will help pay for paving the lot, which will have 35 parking stalls, screening and landscaping, Gochenour said. Work will begin in the spring.

-Thanked Robert Grogan Jr., who retired on Sept. 25 after 30 years of serving as a volunteer firefighter, ending his career as deputy chief.

TFP Voter’s Guide 2026: Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner

By

Jaden Jefferson

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October 1, 2026

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Election 2026 _ Jennifer Brunner_ Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio _ August 14, 2026 — Election 2026: Jennifer Brunner: Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio. (TFP image by Jaden Jefferson)

TOLEDO – This year, Ohioans will be deciding the result of a number of races: one for governor, another for U.S. Senate, and plenty of others that receive less attention, such as those for attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor. Voters will also be electing their state and congressional representatives. And while some of these contests have been contentious, there’s another high-profile race that, so far, hasn’t really been: the one for a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court.

In fact, there are two state Supreme Court seats on the ballot this year: that of incumbent Republican Justice Dan Hawkins, who’s up against Democratic candidate Marilyn Zayas, and that of incumbent Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner, who faces Republican candidate Colleen O’Donnell.

This story, however, will focus on the latter. The Toledo Free Press recently spoke with Justice Brunner to gain a better understanding of:

– her judicial philosophy,
– the working relationship she maintains with her colleagues (all of whom are Republican),
– her thoughts on the strength of our country’s institutions,
– and the challenges, she believes, the judiciary faces.

We began with what she’s learned about the court as an institution in her first term on the bench.

Noting her prior experience as a common pleas judge in Franklin County, justice on the bench of Ohio’s 10th District Court of Appeals, staffer in the state senate, and secretary of state, Brunner says serving on the state’s highest court has brought her a “deeper understanding” of how it integrates with those other parts of state government.

“As an attorney for 43 years, I’ve always noticed the last word on state law, in cases in the state of Ohio, but I’ve been really interested [in] learning about how it blends into the work of the other two branches,” she said.

Jaden Jefferson, Toledo Free Press: The court’s makeup is something that’s often talked about. It’s composed of seven justices: six of them Republican, and one a Democrat — that, of course, being you. And while justices are expected to exercise impartiality, which is why my next question won’t be a political one — there is still a political component — in that, since 2021, party labels have appeared beside judicial candidates’ names on the general election ballot. So, what should Ohioans know about the working relationship you have with your colleagues?

Jennifer Brunner — Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio: I have a good, collegial working relationship with my colleagues. I focus on trying to get the law right. We don’t always agree, but we agree to disagree and it’s important to be collegial, so that the public sees what the court does and not who the individual justices on the court are or whether they get along or not.

Jefferson: Do the ideological differences that exist between yourself and your colleagues add a level of complication? Or would you say they make for more well-rounded conversations?

Brunner: Both, and when you say “ideological,” I would say, if there’s an ideological difference, it really is more in the approach that we take to how we reach our decisions.

Brunner pointed to a couple of challenges on which she and her colleagues have found consensus: rural Ohio’s limited/nonexistent access to legal services, as well as the undefined role of artificial intelligence in the courtroom.

“The fact we are elected has meant that we had to campaign and we had to actually spend time throughout the various parts of Ohio, which is an extremely diverse state. And so, I think it’s easier for us to share views on those issues because we’ve all experienced much of the same as we’ve campaigned for office.”

Jefferson: Do you find it to be a challenge when the law may be very specific, and there’s still disagreement between judges?

Brunner: What I see as problematic with the court, at this point in time, is the overruling, within a two-year period, of an earlier decision — not because of any change in circumstances — but because of a change in the makeup of the members of the court. That’s a problem.

As traditionally independent government agencies, such as the Federal Reserve and Federal Trade Commission, face new challenges to their insulation from politics, the TFP asked Justice Brunner how the nation’s institutions — like its courts — can maintain trust in the face of political pressures. She said that the best way is “to not be partisan or even appear partisan.”

Another test of the courts’ independence has been from individual threats against judges.

Crediting the court’s “very strong and well-operated” security apparatus, Justice Brunner said that she herself hasn’t faced these kinds of attempts at intimidation while on the bench. Rather, she said her biggest threats came as secretary of state, in the wake of 2008’s presidential election.

Brunner pointed to rhetorical choices she believes public figures should make, in order to keep discourse civil: “People can disagree with what the court does, but as I said before, it really should not be personalized to any particular judge, because — even if it’s a trial court judge — that decision is reviewable by a court of appeals and, potentially, by the Ohio Supreme Court,” she said. “When it’s a decision by the Ohio Supreme Court, it’s not a single judge who made a decision, it’s at least four — sometimes up to seven.”

For those who might not assign the court’s decisions much importance in their day-to-day lives, she cited a few examples of how it has an outsized impact on Ohioans, including cases involving the legal process for beginning data center construction, ones involving solar farms, and others that have dealt with what public utilities can charge their customers for infrastructure upgrades.

In other words: While state Supreme Court races may not always be the center of attention, their outcomes can be consequential and greatly affect the very issues that are in the spotlight.

The Toledo Free Press has reached out to Colleen O’Donnell’s campaign, and we intend to share her thoughts in a future article, after an interview is arranged.

Toledo Area Announcements

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Press Release

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September 30, 2026

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image (3) — "Lake Titicaca" (1935). By Alejandro Mario Yllanes (1913–c. 1960). Oil on canvas, 176 x 240 cm. (Image courtesy of Toledo Museum of Art and Ben Elwes Fine Art, London)

(All announcements are 100% compiled from press releases, or otherwise shared by our media partners as credited)

Community

The Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) announced the acquisition of Lake Titicaca (1935), a significant painting by Bolivian artist Alejandro Mario Yllanes (1913–c.1960), marking a major step in TMA’s ongoing efforts to broaden the narrative represented within its collection. The acquisition marks the first work by Yllanes to enter TMA’s collection and positions the museum as one of the few U.S. institutions to hold one of the artist’s paintings. Yllanes’s works, both across painting and works on paper, have only recently reemerged following decades of relative obscurity.

Education news

Owens Community College

Owens student Austin McHenry, of Wauseon, was chosen to serve as Student Director for the Society of Vascular Ultrasound (SVU), a national organization of more than 4,200 vascular technologists, surgeons, cardiologists, lab directors, academics and students. As Student Director, McHenry will represent the student voice on the SVU Board of Directors.

In other news, visits to the Owens Community College food pantry more than doubled from fall to spring semester last year. Now a $2,500 grant from the Food Recovery Network (FRN) will help the college get more food, including leftovers from campus events, into students’ hands. The grant will allow the Center for Campus and Community Connections to purchase a new double-door cooler, which director Krista Kiessling said will be called the “Community Fridge,” filled with donated and reclaimed food available for students.

Bowling Green State University

BGSU has been named the No. 1 public university in Ohio and No. 3 in the Midwest for first-year experiences in the 2027 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report, recognizing the University’s comprehensive approach to helping students transition to college, build community, engage in campus life and define their path forward.

University of Toledo

Expanded solar array near UToledo Medical Center. (Courtesy photo)

With the recent expansion of a solar array near the University of Toledo Medical Center, UToledo is more than doubling its capacity for solar energy production on Health Science Campus while creating opportunities for student learning and research.

“This project is an exciting, real-world demonstration of the importance of the ground-breaking advances being made at First Solar and the strong connection to our work at the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization,” said Dr. Michael Heben, a Distinguished University Professor and the Helen and Harold McMaster Chair and Director of UToledo’s Wright Center for Photovoltaics and Commercialization.

Maritime Academy

Maritime Academy of Toledo is celebrating significant progress reflected in the latest Ohio State Report Card, including a substantial increase in its graduation rate and a 3-star Progress rating.

Maritime Academy’s 4-year graduation rate increased from 68.4% to 82.1%, an improvement of nearly 14 percentage points. The school also earned 3 stars in Progress, reflecting academic growth in multiple tested subjects.

The school also reduced chronic absenteeism from 91.2% to 87.4%, exceeding the state’s goal of a 3% reduction.

Health & Environment

ProMedica will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Emergency and Urgent Care facility in Perrysburg. The approximately 12,000-square-foot facility will expand access to high-quality emergency and urgent care services for residents, businesses and visitors in Perrysburg and the surrounding communities.
The facility will combine a full-service emergency department and urgent care under one roof, enabling patients to receive the appropriate level of care in a single location. Staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians, it will serve as the second freestanding location of the ProMedica Toledo Hospital emergency department and build on the successful model established at ProMedica Emergency and Urgent Care in Maumee.

Government & Politics news

Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office News – On Sept. 18, Ezekiel James pleaded no contest to four felony offenses and agreed to serve 30 to 35.5 years in prison for the Dec. 2025 shooting death of Haiden Babiuch and his efforts to make her death appear to be a suicide. James, 20, of Oregon, Ohio, pleaded no contest in CR2026-00055 to one count each of involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault, along with two counts of tampering with evidence.

*Courtesy of This Week in Toledo:

– On Sept. 22, Toledo City Council voted unanimously to audit the city’s Flock cameras; unanimously to add a local licensing requirement for hotels and motels; and voted 1-8 against a recycling audit contract with GT Environmental Inc., with Melden casting the lone vote in favor. Jones, Komives, and McPherson were absent.

– On Sept. 24, Toledo City Council’s Housing, Community Development, & Public Health Committee held a public hearing regarding an ordinance (O-399-26) protecting tenants from landlord retaliation. The ordinance, if passed, would require landlords to provide good causes for evictions and rent increases against tenants who report property issues or form tenant unions, under penalty of a second degree misdemeanor.

– Also on Sept. 24, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) board voted to designate Monroe Street as a rapid transit corridor. If developed, dedicated lanes for busses would be created on Monroe Street with platform-level boarding at stops and service occurring as frequently as every fifteen minutes.

– On Sept. 25, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced that TARTA will receive a $1.36 million grant from its Workforce Mobility Partnership program, allowing it to add 27 new bus-stop shelters and renovate 28 others.

– Local Democratic Party organizations, including the Lucas County Democratic Party, the Wood County Democratic Party, the Lucas County Stonewall Democrats, and the Lucas County Young Democrats have published statements condemning recent television ads by Democratic U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur that use anti-transgender talking points.

-Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong was seriously injured in a car accident in Colorado on Sept. 18 while attending an annual memorial for fallen firefighters. Armstrong’s injuried included a fractured sternum, fractured back, whiplash, and bruises. Assistant Chief John Kaminski is running operations while she recovers.

– Lucas County residents can determine how much upcoming property tax levies will cost them using the the Lucas County Auditor’s levy estimator. To use the tool, visit https://www.lucascountyohioauditor.gov/areis, search for your property by address under “Property search”, and click “Levy Estimator” on the left-hand side.

Business & nonprofit news

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority announced last month that it has been awarded $32.34 million through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to complete the remediation of the Lower Maumee River Sway Bridge Project, a significant milestone in the ongoing restoration of the Maumee River.

The funding will support the removal of approximately 121,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from a one-mile section of the Lower Maumee River along Front Street between the Seneca Petroleum Marine Terminal and the Ironville Marine Terminal. The project represents one of the largest sediment remediation efforts currently underway in Northwest Ohio and is a critical step toward improving water quality, restoring aquatic habitat, and advancing the long-term revitalization of Toledo’s waterfront.

Maumee – CMS Corporation (CMS) has been awarded a $1.3M task order at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, under its $2.5 billion US Air Force Petroleum Oil Lubricant (POL) Worldwide Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC). This project will carefully remove and replace several components within the existing fuel system to enhance its reliability and safety. CMS is currently performing a $60M bulk storage tank project at MCAS Iwakuni. Read more at cmscorp.com.

Courtesy of This Week in Toledo:

On Sept. 23, the Metroparks Toledo board voted unanimously to approve $300,000 to Kokosing Construction Company for preconstruction work on Vistula Metropark, a $24 million project set to begin construction next year; $168,000 for new tasers for park rangers; and $81,680 to improve habitat at Howard Marsh Metropark.

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) is just the 10th transit agency in the nation to roll out an apprenticeship program for operators endorsed by the International Amalgamated Transit Union. New operators undergo 300 hours of instruction time, split between classroom training and road training. Read more about the program here.

*Courtesy of This Week in Toledo:

– FOX 36/WUPW began airing news and weather coverage from 13ABC on Sept. 28. WUPW previously aired news and weather from WTOL 11 through a shared services agreement signed in 2012.

Sports

Walleye News – Goaltender Matt Jurusik returns to the Pond for his first full season in Toledo and second overall after agreeing to terms for the 2026-27 ECHL season.

Mud Hens News –

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Tuesday, September 15th vs. Louisville (5-3 W)

Wednesday, September 16th vs. Louisville (3-1 W)

Thursday, September 17th vs. Louisville (5-1 W)

Friday, September 18th vs. Louisville (1-3 L)

Saturday, September 19th vs. Louisville (4-1 W)

Sunday, September 20th vs. Louisville (2-0 W)