Adams County voters will decide countywide levies, school board contests, township and village races, and local tax and liquor issues when they head to the polls on Election Day, November 4, 2025.
By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
Adams County voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to decide a wide range of countywide issues, school board contests, township and village races, and local levies and liquor options.
Countywide Issues
Three county tax questions will appear on every ballot. A renewal levy for the Adams County Health Department would continue 0.5 mill for five years beginning in 2026. The county auditor estimates it will raise $268,429 annually, which equals $14 for each $100,000 of taxable property value. Another renewal levy supports the Adams County Senior Citizens Council at 0.7 mill for five years beginning in 2026, projected to generate $340,092 annually, or $17 for each $100,000 of value.
A new levy for Adams County Children Services, including the care and placement of children at Wilson Children’s Home, proposes 1 mill for five years beginning in 2025, raising $631,465 annually at a cost of $35 for each $100,000. This levy is listed as an additional tax levy, however following the failure of the replacement levy, for the same issue, in the last general election this levy had to be listed as an additional levy on the November 4 ballot.
School Board Elections
Several school districts have board seats up for election across Adams County.
In the Adams County/Ohio Valley School District, three seats are open. Candidates are Paula McIntosh, Timothy Morrison, Gay Lynn Shipley, Trent Arey, Benjamin Hilderbrand, and Robin P. Lucas.
The Bright Local School District has two open seats with Angela K. Wright and Steven T. Cox listed.
Eastern Local School District ballots carry Debbie Forsythe and Edmund McVey as candidates for its board.
The Manchester Local School District has three candidates for its open seats: Owen Applegate, Steve Henderson, and Troy D. Thatcher.
The Southern Ohio Educational Service Center Governing Board lists Linda Stepp for one unexpired term ending December 31, 2027, in Sub-District #9. In the Brown County portion of the ESC, James Castle, Greg Haitz, and Marty Paeltz are on the ballot.
Bratton Township – Precinct 01
Voters will elect two township trustees. Candidates are James P. Hillger, Jerren Perdue, David Scott, and James Wallace. No valid petition was filed for the Educational Service Center Governing Board seat appearing in this precinct. A replacement levy for township road improvement is on the ballot, set at 2 mills for five years beginning in 2025, estimated to raise $55,257 annually.
Bratton Township – Precinct 02
Bratton 02 voters will also elect two township trustees with the same four candidates: James P. Hillger, Jerren Perdue, David Scott, and James Wallace. This ballot also carries the township road improvement levy replacement at 2 mills, expected to raise $55,257 annually.
Oliver Township – Precinct 05
Oliver Township voters will elect two trustees. Candidates are Quintin W. Baker and Charles W. Emert. Two local levies appear: a replacement-and-increase fire levy at a total of 2 mills for five years beginning in 2025, estimated to raise $59,561 annually, and a replacement road levy at 2 mills for five years beginning in 2025, also projected at $59,560 annually.
Green Township – Precinct 0601
Green 0601 voters will elect two trustees. John R. Easter and Wesley Taylor are listed. The ballot includes a renewal levy for fire protection at 2 mills for five years beginning in 2025, with $15,745 estimated annual revenue.
Green Township – Precinct 0602
Green 0602 voters will also elect two trustees. Candidates are John R. Easter and Wesley Taylor.
Monroe Township – Precinct 0801
Monroe 0801 ballots list two trustee seats to be filled, with candidates Robert W. Bentley, Nikki Gerber, Susan K. Lee, Shannon W. McCarty, and Sheena White. An unexpired fiscal officer term ending March 31, 2028, will be filled by either LeAnn Brown or Beth E. Pirtle-Frazer.
Monroe Township – Precinct 0802
Monroe 0802 voters will also elect two trustees from the same candidate list: Robert W. Bentley, Nikki Gerber, Susan K. Lee, Shannon W. McCarty, and Sheena White. The same fiscal officer unexpired term contest is on the ballot.
Meigs Township – Precinct 04
Meigs 04 ballots list two trustee seats, with candidates Kevin Cross, Larry J. Gardner, and Steve Hoop. Voters will also decide a renewal levy for cemetery maintenance at 0.5 mill for five years beginning in 2026, estimated to raise $33,239 annually.
Peebles Village – Precinct 03 (within Meigs Township)
Peebles voters will elect four village council members. Candidates are Eugene McFarland, Dave Stephens, Baylee Wallace, and Shannon Wilkinson, with two certified write-in slots also available. A liquor option appears asking whether Local Jacks LLC at 122 S. Main Street should be permitted to sell beer, wine, mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor under D-1, D-2, and D-3 permits.
Manchester Township – Precinct 0701
Manchester United Township 0701 lists two trustee seats, though the ballot includes no printed candidate names, leaving the contest to certified write-ins.
Manchester Township and Village – Precinct 0702
Manchester 0702 ballots propose a replacement levy for police protection in the Village of Manchester at 4 mills for five years beginning in 2025, estimated at $70,534 annually. A replacement levy for township current expenses at 1 mill for five years beginning in 2025 is also on the ballot, estimated at $18,765 annually. A liquor option asks whether AL Post 0325 Matthews Carter at 211 Pearl Street should be permitted to sell wine, mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor on Sundays under a D-6 permit.
Jefferson Township – Precinct 1601
Jefferson Township voters will elect two trustees. Candidates are Chris W. Cornell, Terry L. Holsinger, Grant C. Jaeger, and Danny Liston. The ballot notes no valid petition filed for the unexpired term of township fiscal officer. Two liquor option petitions appear for Ganeshog LLC, doing business as Blue Creek General Store. One asks if the store may sell beer, wine, and mixed beverages; the other asks if Sunday sales should be permitted.
Liberty Township – Precinct 1701
Liberty 1701 voters will elect two trustees. Candidates are Jason D. Baldwin, Randy Bartlett, Jacob Hurt, Matthew Isaac, and Adam Wheeler. A renewal levy for fire protection at 0.5 mill for five years is also on the ballot.
Liberty Township – Precinct 1702
Liberty 1702 ballots list the same five trustee candidates—Jason D. Baldwin, Randy Bartlett, Jacob Hurt, Matthew Isaac, and Adam Wheeler—and the same 0.5 mill renewal levy for fire protection.
Winchester Village – Precinct 1301
Winchester Village ballots list four council seats. Candidates are Jason Jandes, Rick Roessler, Harry Speck, and Carma J. Tincher. Nichole Lung is listed for one seat on the Board of Trustees of Public Affairs. A replacement levy for current expenses appears at 3 mills for five years beginning in 2025, projected to generate $48,549 annually.
Winchester Township – Precinct 1401
Winchester Township ballots include two trustee seats. Candidates are Kirk Bunn, Michael Swackhammer, and Jon Young.
Brush Creek Township – Precinct 1501
Brush Creek Township ballots list two trustee seats, with Dustin Hayslip, Randy B. Lewis, and Zeblin Paul Lewis as candidates. A 1 mill renewal levy for cemetery maintenance is also on the ballot, with the county auditor estimating $13,261 annually.
Sprigg Township – Precinct 0902
Sprigg Township voters will elect two trustees. The ballot also carries a renewal levy for current expenses at 1 mill for five years, expected to raise $49,884 annually.
Tiffin Township – East Precinct 2001
Tiffin East voters will elect two township trustees. Candidates are Richard M. Dryden and Greg B. Grooms. A renewal levy for fire protection appears at 0.5 mill for five years beginning in 2026, excluding the Village of West Union, estimated to raise $11,103 annually.
Tiffin Township – West Precinct 2101
Tiffin West ballots also list Richard M. Dryden and Greg B. Grooms for two trustee seats. A renewal levy for fire protection is included at 0.5 mill for five years, excluding West Union, with the same $11,103 estimated annual revenue.
West Union Village – Precinct A
West Union A voters will elect four council members. Candidates are Randy Brewer, Ryan A. Myers, and Donna Young, with a write-in line available. Township trustee races for Tiffin Township appear here as well, with Richard M. Dryden and Greg B. Grooms listed.
West Union Village – Precinct B
West Union B ballots list the same council contest with Randy Brewer, Ryan A. Myers, and Donna Young plus a write-in line, filling four seats. Tiffin Township trustee races also appear with Richard M. Dryden and Greg B. Grooms.
From countywide levies that fund health, senior, and children’s services, to school board contests and local trustee, fiscal officer, and council races, Adams County voters will face a comprehensive ballot this November. Local levies for roads, cemeteries, fire protection, and police services, along with liquor option petitions in Peebles, Manchester, and Blue Creek, add to the mix of decisions that will shape the county’s governance and services for the next several years.
