The Advertiser-Tribune typically does not endorse a candidate during a contested primary election - unless the winner would be unopposed in the general election.
With that in mind, the editorial board at The A-T last month individually interviewed Dave Sauber and Holly Stacy, Republican candidates for a term on the Seneca County Board of Commissioners which is to begin Jan. 2, 2013. While Kevin Carrigan and Fred Zoeller are competing for a term on the board which is to begin Jan. 3, the winner of that race would face incumbent Ben Nutter in the fall election.
Then a county employee took out nominating petitions from the board of elections to run as an independent candidate for the Jan. 2 seat in the general election. The deadline to file those petitions is 4 p.m. today.
That development, and the deadline, presents an awkward situation. Thus, we will not be endorsing a candidate for the board term which is to begin Jan. 2.
We doubt, however, our advice is needed in this race. The incumbent, Sauber, can claim he helped shepherd the county through the recession, when the board reduced expenses by 18 percent over three years and began 2012 with a balanced budget with about $1.5 million in carryover funds.
This year also should bring a new juvenile detention center and a new building for Seneca County Agency Transportation, which were made available through grants and funds set aside by commissioners.
For those desiring a change, Stacy - president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County and a former member of the Old Fort Board of Education - touted her business and public service background, and said she would bring a business-like approach to helping run the county.
Interestingly, a referendum on an overhaul of election laws in Ohio also will be on the fall ballot. Regardless of its outcome, state lawmakers should reconsider filing deadlines as they relate to early voting schedules.
