By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County voters returned their sheriff and county commissioners to office, narrowly elected a Democrat to a judge seat, and ousted the county recorder for a Republican who refused to participate in a candidates forum.
For a seat as Wood County Common Pleas judge, Joel Kuhlman squeezed out a 270-vote victory over Corey Speweik. The unofficial results from Tuesday night put Kuhlman at 27,651 votes to Speweik’s 27,381 votes.
“I’ve been in this position before,” Kuhlman said. “I’m glad to be on the other side of 50% this time.”
The vote count will be official after provisional votes are added in.
Kuhlman said his priorities as judge will be to “uphold the law and serve the residents of Wood County.”
He will reportedly be the first Democrat elected to fill a judgeship in Wood County.
Incumbent Republican Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn earned the most votes of all the contested county candidates. He won the race with 40,568 votes (63%) over Ruth Babel-Smith’s 23,633 votes (37%).
“It shows that people are happy with what we are doing,” the sheriff said. “I appreciate having the support of Democrats and Republicans.”
Wasylyshyn said he has three primary goals for his new term in office.
First is the expansion of the medical and booking areas of the jail. He is not sure if the planned addition of more beds for female inmates is still necessary.
Second is to decrease the number of mental health issues being handled in jails. “I want to not have jails be mental hospitals,” but instead be able to send people where they can get treatment.
And third, Wasylyshyn wants to make people of color feel more safe with local law enforcement. “I need to work on that,” he said. “I want to break the barriers so people aren’t afraid of us.”
Incumbent Republican Wood County Commissioner Ted Bowlus secured a second term with 36,256 votes (58%) over Democratic contender Bruce Jeffers with 26,522 votes (42%).
“I’m glad that I won because we have more goals that we have to meet,” Bowlus said.
Among his priorities are balancing the county budget with “good, sound and smart economic growth,” he said.
Bowlus also wants to return focus on the opiate crisis, “that we put on the back burner when COVID struck.” And he wants to prepare the county for future pandemics that may occur.
The other contested county race pitted incumbent Wood County Recorder Julie Baumgardner, a Democrat, against Republican challenger James Matuszak.
Matuszak, who refused to participate in the League of Women Voters candidate forum, won with 32,032 votes (52%) over Baumgardner’s 30,142 votes (48%).
Following are the preliminary results for the races for Wood County candidates:
Wood County Common Pleas Judge
- Joel Kuhlman: 27,651 (50.25%)
- Corey Speweik: 27,381 (49.75%)
Wood County Probate Court Judge
- David Woessner: 45,085 (100%)
Wood County Clerk of Court
- Douglas Cubberley (R): 47,522 (100%)
Wood County Commissioner
- Craig LaHote (R): 47,436 (100%)
Wood County Commissioner
- Ted Bowlus (R): 36,256 (58%)
- Bruce Jeffers (D): 26,522 (42%)
Wood County Prosecuting Attorney
- Paul Dobson (R): 47,872 (100%)
Wood County Engineer
- John Musteric (R): 47,683 (100%)
Wood County Coroner
- Douglas Hess (R): 48,688 (100%)
Wood County Recorder
- Julie Baumgardner (D): 30,142 (48%)
- James Matuszak (R): 32,032 (52%)
Wood County Sheriff
- Ruth Babel-Smith (D): 23,633 (37%)
- Mark Wasylyshyn (R): 40,568 (63%)
Wood County Treasurer
- Jane Spoerl (R): 48,601 (100%)
