By HOLLY GASKILL
Three town council seats and the clerk-treasurer’s office were up for grabs in Poneto Tuesday, marking the only contested races in Wells County.
With only a small pool of voters, most victories were slight. Incumbent council member Linda Ogle (I) secured her seat by the largest total, 33 votes. Current town council president Becky Smith (R), however, received 19 votes and was ousted by newcomers Paul Miller (R) and Kelly Coleman-Potter (D). Miller and Coleman-Potter received 32 and 24 votes, respectively.
The final two candidates were Ashley O’Reilly (D), who received 18 votes, and Isaiah Medina Geels (R), who received six.
Incumbent Brad Shoeff (D) also retained his seat as Poneto clerk-treasurer against challenger Lou Ann Reinhard (R). Shoeff received 28 votes and Reinhard received 19.
The winning Poneto candidates will take office in January alongside an extensive list of uncontested candidates. Bluffton candidates were: John Whicker, mayor; Michelle Simon, clerk-treasurer; Robert Bate, judge; and Common Council members Chandler Gerber (District 1), Joshua Hunt (District 2), Janella Stronczek (District 3), Scott Mentzer (District 4), Sarah Reed (District 5), and Rick Elwell and Blake Fiechter (At-Large).
Ossian candidates were Angie Ealing, clerk-treasurer, and council members Jeffrey Kemper (Center District), Dennis Ealing (East District) and Glen Werling (West District).
The remaining uncontested candidates were: Kiera Lance, Uniondale clerk-treasurer; John Ringger, Uniondale Town Council; and Judy Mikesell, Cynthia Mulkey and Mason Raines, Vera Cruz Town Council.
holly@news-banner.com
