Moved-up primary has contested races

Ohio moved the primary election to make more of an impact in this presidential election year. They moved it to St. Patricks’ Day, March 17.
There is a lengthy list of races and ballot issues, but none of them are local to Brookfield Township or Yankee Lake.
Probably the most watched race is for county engineer, where incumbent Randy L. Smith of Warren is facing a Democratic challenge from the man he replaced, David M. Dechristofaro of Niles.
Other contested races on the Democratic slate are county Commissioner Daniel E. Polivka of Warren being challenged by David M. Guarino and Carl F. Clemens III, both of Warren; and 63rd District State Rep. Gil Blair of Weathersfield facing Werner Lange of Newton Falls and Barry Profato of Niles.
Uncontested candidates are: Tim Ryan of Howland, U.S. Rep.; Sean J. O’Brien of Bazetta, state senator; Timothy P. Cannon of Painesville and Cynthia Westcott Rice of Brookfield, 11th District Court of Appeals; Mauro Cantalamessa of Warren, county commissioner; Karen Infante Allen of Niles, clerk of common pleas court; Lawrence M. D’Amico of Warren, county coroner; Tod Latell of Girard, county recorder; Paul S. Monroe of Warren, county sheriff; Dennis Watkins of Warren, county prosecutor; Sam Lamancusa of Girard, county treasurer; Peter J. Kontos of Warren, common pleas court judge; and James A. Fredericka of Warren, probate judge.
The Republican slate is much smaller, but seven people are vying for the chance to take on Ryan for U.S. Rep.: Robert J. Santos of Youngstown, Jason Mormando of Youngstown, Duane Hennen of Warren, Louis G. Lyras of Campbell, Christina M. Hagan of Alliance, Richard A. Morckel of Akron and Donald Truex of Rittman.
Two Republicans want the chance to go up against O’Brien for the 63rd District seat, Sandra O’Brien of Rome and Kenneth J. Polke of Ashtabula, and two Warren residents also are seeking Polivka’s seat as a commissioner, Niki Frenchko and Rex Fee.
Uncontested on the GOP ticket are: Matt Lynch of Bainbridge and Sarah Thomas Kovoor of Warren, 11th District Court of Appeals; Mike Loychik of Cortland, state representative; and Larry Woods of Warren, county coroner.
Polling places are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.