Wednesday, November 4th, 2020

Laffin wins 11th term in Mercer

By William Kincaid
CELINA - Long-entrenched Mercer County Commissioner Jerry Laffin of Coldwater secured an 11th four-year term on Election Day.
Laffin, a Republican, easily defeated Democratic rival Don Holtvoigt of Celina, by taking 82.13 % of the total vote. According to Mercer County Board of Elections' unofficial results, 18,851 ballots were cast for Laffin and 4,103 for Holtvoigt.
"I feel real good about it," Laffin said about his Election Day victory. "I'd like to thank the citizens of the county for supporting me again, and I'll try to continue to do the things like I have in the past."
Laffin also took the opportunity to address the ongoing pandemic, urging people to practice social distancing, wear masks and follow other safety protocols amid the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Too many are not taking the pandemic seriously, he said.
"We need to also support our health department and the hospital," he said. "Our health people, they're frustrated. They're trying to do their best to do what they can to keep us safe."
Laffin, 82, has been a county commissioner since Jan. 2, 1981.
"I still enjoy it," he said when asked why he's running. "All in all, Mercer County, I think, is a very good place to live. It's a good place to raise our children and our grandchildren. We have good education systems in this county. We've got good people."
Laffin and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 61 years. They have three children and 11 grandchildren. A lifelong farmer, Laffin graduated from Celina High School in 1956. His time in FFA was a pivotal experience in which he learned parliamentary procedures, public speaking and leadership skills, he said.
Asked about his qualifications, Laffin pointed to his extensive experience in office, adding he's well versed in assembling budgets and making appropriations.
"We are sitting financially, I think, in pretty good shape. We do have a decent carryover," he said, explaining a surplus is necessary to carry the county through the first few months of a new year.
Over the years, commissioners have made major investments in water and sewer projects, Laffin said. They also ushered in a full-time community and economic development department and created a revolving loan fund that led to the startup or expansion of countless businesses that created close to 2,000 jobs.
Additional online stories on this date
WAPAKONETA - Republican incumbent John Bergman handily beat his independent challenger, Duane Stienecker, in the race for Auglaize County commissioner. [More]
By WILLIAM KINCAID and SYDNEY ALBERT
newsroom@dailystandard.com
Local voters came out in droves this election cycle.
Mercer County likely saw [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
CELINA - An 80-year-old Fort Recovery woman reportedly is the latest person to die from COVID-19 in Mercer County, raising the total number of deaths to 29.
WAPAKONETA - A St. Marys man has been sentenced to 23 to 26.5 years in prison for convictions on two first-degree felony counts of rape and two third-degree felony counts of gross sexual imposition.
MINSTER - Village council members on Tuesday approved the second round of COVID-19 relief grants for 14 local businesses.
The latest grants, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, totaled $26,000. They were funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
By WILLIAM KINCAID and SYDNEY ALBERT
newsroom@dailystandard.com
Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties overwhelmingly supported fire levies on the ballot on Election Day.
WAPAKONETA - A five-year, 1-mill operating levy benefiting the Auglaize County Council on Aging has been renewed, gaining approval from about three-quarters of all voters in the county, according to Tuesday night's unofficial results.
WAPAKONETA - Jason A. Stienecker will continue to serve as Auglaize County Coroner, beating opponent Ken Fox with more than 70% of the vote, according to Tuesday's unofficial election results.
CELINA - A Celina City School District renewal operating levy passed with solid support from voters on Election Day.
The renewal levy passed the finish line with 5,702 votes, or 59.25%, in support and 3,921 against the issue, according to Mercer County Board of Elections' unofficial results.
ROCKFORD - Voters overwhelmingly approved the renewal of a five-year, 0.7-mill permanent improvement levy for Vantage Career Center, according to unofficial election results Tuesday night.
FORT RECOVERY - Nearly 68% of voters supported the renewal of a five-year operating levy for the village, according to unofficial election results on Tuesday night.
Both local state representatives and the local senator - all Republicans - were re-elected to their posts and will return to Columbus.

12th Senate
All three Republican U.S. representatives from the Grand Lake area were re-elected by large margins according to unofficial vote tallies on Tuesday night.
Ankerman's OT goal lifts Roughriders to regional semifinal victory
ST. MARYS- St. Marys found some last-minute magic on Tuesday night, and the Roughriders needed every drop of it in their Division II girls soccer regional semifinal against Mentor Lake Catholic.
Division IV Regional Volleyball Semifinals Preview
Fort Recovery's win over Marion Local last Thursday for a Division IV district volleyball championship could easily be called a "once in a lifetime" victory.
Division IV Regional Volleyball Semifinals Preview
Most volleyball teams look to go into the postseason on a high note.
But for New Bremen, the Cardinals ended the regular season a bit staggered in dropping league matches to New Knoxville and Fort Recovery to go from first to third in the Midwest Athletic Conference.