Auglaize County Election Results: Wapakoneta Parks Levy Passes, St. Marys Township Levy Leads by Nine Votes

WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WCSM) — Wapakoneta voters backed a parks levy by nearly 60% Tuesday, while an additional police protection levy in the unincorporated area of St. Marys Township was ahead by just nine votes in Auglaize County’s unofficial general election returns.

The Auglaize County Board of Elections reported results from all 42 election day precincts in its 8:46 p.m. summary. The county counted 19,407 ballots out of 31,961 registered voters, for a turnout of 60.72%. That included 12,501 ballots cast on Election Day, 4,957 absentee ballots cast in person and 1,949 absentee ballots returned by mail. The report did not include provisional votes.

All results below are unofficial. Figures for statewide races and districts that extend beyond Auglaize County reflect only the votes reported in the county.

Wapakoneta voters back parks levy

Wapakoneta’s additional parks levy passed in the unofficial count with 2,105 votes in favor and 1,418 against. The measure received 59.75% support and carried by 687 votes, with all eight city precincts reporting.

Mayor Dan Lee told WCSM the 2-mill levy is expected to generate about $560,000 a year, all dedicated to city parks. Lee said the first priority is catching up on maintenance, including work on park grounds and aging playground equipment. The city will also look at replacing entire playground structures and adding new ones.

St. Marys Township police levy ahead by nine votes

The additional police protection levy for the unincorporated area of St. Marys Township received 756 votes in favor and 747 against, or 50.30% to 49.70%, with all three precincts reporting.

Election Day voters opposed the levy 444 to 378. The measure drew enough support from absentee voters to erase that deficit, with 378 votes in favor and 303 against across the in-person and mail absentee totals. That left the levy nine votes ahead in the unofficial count.

New Knoxville, Washington Township and Wayne Township levies draw support

New Knoxville voters backed an additional fire levy, 277 to 144, with 65.80% voting in favor. An additional fire levy for the unincorporated area of Washington Township drew 305 votes in favor and 183 against, or 62.50% support.

In the unincorporated area of Logan Township, a road and bridge levy renewal received 290 votes in favor and 162 against, or 64.16% support.

Wayne Township voters backed both renewals on their ballots. The fire levy renewal drew 419 votes in favor and 136 against, or 75.50% support. The cemetery levy renewal received 367 votes in favor and 190 against, or 65.89% support.

Spencerville school income tax renewal leads by one vote in Auglaize County

The Spencerville Local School District income tax renewal drew 141 votes in favor and 140 against in the two Auglaize County precincts reporting on the measure. The one-vote margin reflects only the Auglaize County portion of the school district.

Four St. Marys liquor options draw majority support

All four local liquor options listed for St. Marys received majority support in the unofficial count. Two were on the ballot in Precinct 4A, with separate questions for Generations and Roots Pub.

Faber carries Auglaize County, voters back State Issue 3

Republican Keith Faber received 15,600 votes in Auglaize County’s attorney general race, or 81.27%. Democrat John J. Kulewicz received 3,595 votes, or 18.73%. Faber’s margin in the county was 12,005 votes.

In a social media post addressing the statewide race, Faber said he called Kulewicz to wish him well and expects him to become Ohio’s next attorney general unless the remaining provisional, military and overseas ballots show an unusual voting pattern.

Auglaize County voters also strongly backed State Issue 3, the proposed constitutional amendment on photo identification for voting. The county recorded 16,331 votes in favor and 2,828 against, or 85.24% support.

Governor, Congress and Ohio House

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy carried Auglaize County in the governor’s race with 14,106 votes, or 73.22%. Democrat Amy Acton received 4,244 votes, or 22.03%, and Libertarian Don Kissick received 870 votes, or 4.52%. The report listed 46 write-in votes.

In the U.S. Senate race for the unexpired term ending Jan. 3, 2029, Republican Jon Husted received 14,223 votes in Auglaize County, or 73.85%. Democrat Sherrod Brown received 3,950 votes, or 20.51%. William B. Redpath received 691 votes, Greg Levy received 379 and the report listed 17 write-in votes.

Republican Jim Jordan received 15,089 votes, or 78.40%, in the county’s returns for Ohio’s 4th Congressional District. Democrat Joshua D. Kolasinski received 3,729 votes and Tracey L. Tackett received 428.

In the Auglaize County portion of Ohio House District 84, Republican Angie King received 11,423 votes, or 79.75%, to Democrat Arienne C. Childrey’s 2,901 votes. In the county’s portion of District 78, Republican Matt Huffman received 3,927 votes, or 82.59%, to Democrat Jeffrey R. Givan’s 828 votes.

Other statewide offices and Ohio Supreme Court

Republican candidates also led the Auglaize County vote in the other statewide executive and Ohio Supreme Court races.

County offices and local courts

The county report listed one candidate in each of the following races.