Township voters elect trustees

CELINA - Jefferson Township voters elected incumbent Nick Laux to continue as township trustee.

Laux received nearly 65 percent of the vote, winning 1,306 votes to challenger Joe Bey's 711.

"I look forward to getting myself settled in and being able to serve the residents of Jefferson Township," Laux told the newspaper after learning of his victory.

Laux had been appointed to fill the remaining term of retiring trustee Dick Baucher. Laux worked at Honda of America Manufacturing for 25 years as well as doing construction, carpentry and excavating work.

Also re-elected on Tuesday were unchallenged incumbent trustees Keith G. Houts and Kent Marbaugh.

St. Marys Township

ST. MARYS TOWNSHIP - The public on Tuesday voted to re-elect incumbents Allen Imwalle and Chad Elshoff.

Imwalle received the most votes with 1,635, or 43 percent, and Elshoff received 1,450 votes, or 38 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. Challenging them was David E. Eversman, who received 692 votes, or 18 percent of the vote.

"I'm pleased to win," Imwalle said. "I want to help people, and this is the best way to do it. We're going to continue improving the roads."

Elshoff said he's "happy to be re-elected."

"Thanks for voting for me," he said. "I want to continue to run the township as we have been, which I think has been successful with our road projects."
- by staff writer Tom Stankard

Granville Township

GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP - Voters re-elected incumbents Marvin Siefring and Greg Clune over newcomer Matt Sudhoff for the two open township trustee seats.

Siefring received 710 votes, or 44 percent of the vote; Clune received 612 votes, or 38 percent of the vote; and Sudhoff received 286 votes, or 18 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results from the board of elections.
  "I am very happy to continue being a trustee," Clune said about the results. "I appreciate all the voters and look forward to serving the township and keeping the roads safe."

Siefring said, "It's always encouraging to win an election."

Moving forward, he said it's going to be "business as usual."

"We're finishing constructing roads before winter starts and we're getting ready for winter operations," he said.
- by staff writer Tom Stankard

Franklin Township

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - Incumbents Neal Klosterman and Ronald Niekamp were re-elected as township trustees on Tuesday for the two open seats.

Klosterman received 357 votes, or 36 percent of the vote, while Niekamp received 330 votes, or 33 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

Challenging them was newcomer Joe Karafit. He received 302 votes, or 31 percent.

Klosterman said he plans to "keep doing the jobs we're doing" to maintain the township's roads and cemeteries.

Niekamp echoed Klosterman's sentiments, saying he would continue the work he's been doing.
- by staff writer Tom Stankard

Butler Township

BUTLER TOWNSHIP - Incumbents Nick Kahlig and Hubert Homan on Tuesday won re-election for two open Butler Township trustee seats.

Nick Kahlig, 62, 5609 Fleetfoot Road, told the newspaper on election night he was just glad the election was over. Kahlig ran on a platform of continuing to clean up the community and keeping it up to date, saying he enjoyed working with people and being involved in different community functions.

Hubert Homan, 65, 5101 Younger Road, thanked all the voters for their support and said he's ready to continue with his four-year plan to pave roads in Butler Township.

"I feel great. You never take an election lightly," Homan said.
- by staff writer Sydney Albert