Run for Columbus City Council!

Starting this year Columbus City Council elections will be kinda based on 9 districts.
We say kinda, because while candidates will be required to reside within 1 of the 9 districts to run for that district, form a 5 person committee and collect 250 valid signatures from district residents, the actual primary and election will be _-= city wide =-_ (same as ever).

Yup.
The same 50k-ish voters will continue to control what happens in Columbus, despite the charter amendment that everyone thought was meant to adopt ward-style elections.

Signature Requirement (City Council) … Min. 250 – No Max.c
Filing Deadline … 4:00 p.m., February 1, 2023
Filing Fee … $45.00 ($20.00 petition filing fee & $25.00 O.E.C. fee)

Contact us to discuss next steps for forming your committee, collecting valid signatures, getting on the ballot and fundraising.

Find out what bullshit “district” you live in to run for Columbus City Council!

Source: https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/BOEL-website/media/Election-Info/2023/(1)%20Primary%20Election%20-%20May%202,%202023/(1)%20Notices%20of%20Election/2023-Primary-Schedule-4.pdf

Donate!

A little money goes a long way in Franklin County! Your gift will help spread the word to the public at community festivals and fairs, purchase literature, and pay the cost of community outreach.

Join our Monthly Newsletter to get county party news, political updates and commentary.

Run for Local Office!

Have you considered running for public office, but find yourself intimidated by all the rules and process?
We can help! We have experienced past candidates, and current elected officials, that can train, explain and help you through every step in the process!
If you ran for office before, consider running again, your odds actually go up on the second try!

The deadline for filing for the March Primary is 4:00 p.m., December 20, 2023!

Write-In Filing Deadline, 4:00 p.m., January 8, 2024.

Here are the localities and roles up for election in Franklin County, and Ohio in for 2024:

2024 ELECTION SCHEDULE

Primary Election Day ……………………………………………………………………………….March 19, 2024

Filing Deadline (90 days)……………………………………………………4:00 p.m., December 20, 2023 Write-In Filing Deadline (72 days)*………………………………………….4:00 p.m., January 8, 2024

Registration Closes (30 days)* ……………………………………………..9:00 p.m., February 20, 2024

Absentee Opens………………………………………………………………………………….February 21, 2024

Independent Filing Deadline…………………………………………………….4:00 p.m., March 18, 2024

General Election Day …………………………………………………………………………….November 5, 2024

Filing Deadline (90 days)………………………………………………………….4:00 p.m., August 7, 2024

Write-In Filing Deadline (72 days)* …………………………………………4:00 p.m., August 26, 2024

Registration Closes (30 days)* ……………………………………………….. 9:00 p.m., October 7, 2024

Absentee Opens……………………………………………………………………………………. October 8, 2024

*In some instances, the statutory deadline falls on a day when the offices of the Secretary of State and boards of elections are closed. In those instances, the deadlines are extended, pursuant to R.C. 1.14, to the next succeeding day when the appropriate office is open for regular business hours.

OHIO SUPREME COURT

Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. Call (877) 767-6446 for information.

Offices to be elected:
Justice (F.T.C. 1-1-2025) – Michael P. Donnelly

Justice (F.T.C. 1-2-2025) – Melody J. Stewart

UNITED STATES SENATE

Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. Call (877) 767-6446 for information.

1 seat to be elected – Sherrod Brown

Major Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-C Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………………………………. 1,000 Filing Fee ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. $150

Minor Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-C Signature Requirement………………………………………………………………………………………. 500 Filing Fee ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. $150

Independent Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-D Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………………………………. 5,000 Filing Fee ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. $150

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Handouts required: Explanation of FDS (US House Committee on Ethics)

Major Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………..2-E Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………….. Min. 50 – Max. 150 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $85.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $35.00 O.E.C. fee)

Minor Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………..2-E Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………. Min. 25 – Max. 75 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $85.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $35.00 O.E.C. fee)

Independent Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………..3-F Signature Requirement………………………………………………..See below for particular district Filing Fee ……………………………….. $85.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $35.00 O.E.C. fee)

page1image23717424

Offices to be elected:

Independent signature requirements: MIN MAX 2,621 7,863 2,555 7,665

page1image23711600

3rd District – Joyce Beatty

15th District – Mike Carey

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

2024 ELECTION SCHEDULE

OHIO SENATE

Handouts required: Joint Legislative Ethics Committee FDS, ORC Packet and Receipt,

Major Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………..2-F Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………….. Min. 50 – Max. 150 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $85.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $35.00 O.E.C. fee)

Minor Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………..2-F Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………. Min. 25 – Max. 75 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $85.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $35.00 O.E.C. fee)

Independent Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-G Signature Requirement……………………………………………….See below for particular district. Filing Fee ……………………………….. $85.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $35.00 O.E.C. fee)

Offices to be elected:
16th District – Stephanie Kunze (2)

OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Independent signature requirements: MIN MAX 1,392 4,176

page2image23668688

Handouts required: Joint Legislative Ethics Committee FDS, ORC Packet and Receipt

Major Party Candidate

Minor Party Candidate

Independent Candidate

Offices to be elected:

1st District – Dontavius Jarrells (2)

2rd District – Latyna Humphrey (1)

3th District – Ismail Mohamed (1)

4th District – Mary Lightbody (3)

5th District – Richard Brown (3)

6th District – Adam Miller (4)
7th District – Allison Russo (3)
8th District – Beth Liston (3)
9 District – Munira Yasin Abdullahi (1)

10th District – David Dobos (1)

11th District – Anita Somani (1)

12th District – Brian Stewart (2) – Files in Pickaway County

Independent signature requirements:

MIN MAX

375 1,125

280 840
287 861
513 1,539
353 1,059
273 819
480 1,440
500 1,500
328 984
330 990
514 1,542

2024 ELECTION SCHEDULE

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

OHIO COURT OF APPEALS (10th District)

Handouts required: Board of Professional Conduct FDS, ORC Packet, Notice of Judicial Seminars, and Receipt
Major Party Candidate
Petition Form…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2-FJ Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………….. Min. 50 – Max. 150 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $30.00 O.E.C. fee)

Minor Party Candidate

Petition Form…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2-FJ Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………. Min. 25 – Max. 75 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $30.00 O.E.C. fee)

Independent Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-G Signature Requirement………………………………………………………. Min. 4,268 – Max. 12,804 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $30.00 O.E.C. fee)

Offices to be elected:
Judge (F.T.C. 2-9-2025) Laurel Beatty Blunt

Judge (F.T.C. 2-10-2025) Betsy Luper Schuster

FRANKLIN COUNTY OFFICES

Handouts required: Ethics Commission FDS, ORC Packet and Receipt

Major Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-G Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………….. Min. 50 – Max. 150 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $30.00 O.E.C. fee)

Minor Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-G Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………. Min. 25 – Max. 75 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $30.00 O.E.C. fee)

Independent Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-H Signature Requirement………………………………………………………. Min. 4,268 – Max. 12,804 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $30.00 O.E.C. fee)

page3image23659952

Offices to be elected:

County Commissioner (F.T.C. 1-2-2025) – Boyce

County Commissioner (F.T.C. 1-3-2025) – O’Grady

County Prosecutor (F.T.C. 1-6-2025) – Tyack

Clerk of Courts (F.T.C. 1-6-2025) – O’Shaughnessy

County Sheriff (F.T.C. 1-6-2025) – Baldwin

County Recorder (F.T.C. 1-6-2025) – O’Connor

County Treasurer (F.T.C. 9-1-2025) – Brooks Sullivan

County Engineer (F.T.C. 1-6-2025) – Robertson

County Coroner(F.T.C. 1-6-2025) – Overmire

page3image23660160

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Offices to be elected: General Division

Judge (F.T.C. 1-3-2025) – Page

Judge (F.T.C. 1-4-2025) – Phipps

Judge (F.T.C. 1-6-2025) – K. Brown

Judge (F.T.C. 1-7-2025) – D. Hawkins

Judge (F.T.C. 1-8-2025) – McIntosh

2024 ELECTION SCHEDULE

FRANKLIN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

Partisan Primary Ballot

Handouts required: Receipt of FDS, Local Candidate Packet and Receipt,
Notice of Judicial Seminars
Major Party Candidate
Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………2-GJ Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………….. Min. 50 – Max. 150 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $30.00 O.E.C. fee)

Minor Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………2-GJ Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………. Min. 25 – Max. 75 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition filing fee & $30.00 O.E.C. fee)

Independent Candidate

page4image24037616

Domestic Relations Division

Judge (F.T.C. 1-1-2025) – Gill
Judge (F.T.C. 1-2-2025) – J. Brown

Judge(F.T.C. 1-5-2025) – Nobles

Judge(F.T.C. 1-10-2025) – M. Hawkins

2024 ELECTION SCHEDULE

BOARD OF ELECTIONS Page 5 of 5 STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Partisan Primary Ballot

Major Party Candidate

Petition Form…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-J Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………… Min. 5 – Max. 15 Filing Fee ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….None Offices to be elected:

3rd Senate District (Man)
3rd Senate District (Woman)

15th Senate District (Man)

15th Senate District (Woman)

16th Senate District (Man)

16th Senate District (Woman)

25th Senate District (Man)

25th Senate District (Woman)

COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Partisan Primary Ballot

Major Party Candidate

Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………..2-L Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………… Min. 5 – Max. 15 Filing Fee ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….None Offices to be elected:

One from each township and city ward (Democratic 4-year term, Republican 2-year term)

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Non-Partisan General Election Ballot

Handouts required: Receipt of FDS, Local Candidate Packet and Receipt

Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………………………4:00 p.m., August 5 Petition Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………..3-Z Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………… Min. 100 – Max. 300 Filing Fee ……………………………….. $55.00 ($20.00 petition filing fee & $35.00 O.E.C. fee) Offices to be elected:

6th State Board of Education District (1 to be elected) – Miranda

7th State Board of Education District (1 to be elected) – Collins

Source: https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/BOEL-website/media/Election-Info/2024/(1)%20Primary%20Election%20-%20March%2019,%202024/(1)%20Notices%20of%20Election/2024-Election-Schedule-5.pdf

Franklin County needs energetic people to run for office! Libertarian elected officials get to make policy that reduces the scope of government and increases personal liberty.

We encourage first-timers to run for local offices in odd-numbered years. You must file a declaration of candidacy with the Franklin County Board of Elections, with completed petitions containing the number of signatures required for the office you are seeking.

Local offices include city and village council, township trustees, and school board members. With a term or two of local office, you will have the experience and credibility to run a successful campaign for county, state, or federal office, but if you have the qualifications to run for a different office, we won’t turn you down! Before starting your campaign, take a quick look at our “Candidate Quick Start Guide” video (27 minutes).

Check out Election and Candidate Resources.

We can help you. Please complete this form, and our Political Director will be in contact with you.

Regional Development Meeting – Pickaway

Wed, July 27 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Learn about ballot access, running for local office, state and local issues, and developing a county party to support local candidates and issues.

Jackie Ray’s Grill 20 Cromley St
Ashville, OH 43103 United States

Get directions and learn more: https://www.fclpo.org/event/regional-development-meeting-pickaway/

FCLP at the Stonewall Pride March and Festival

Thanks to everyone who volunteered and donated for our successful float and booth at the Stonewall Pride March and Festival!

Kudos to Drake and Cooper Lundstrom for their patience and charm, spell binding the crowd with balloon twisting artistry!

Your support makes events like this possible! Please donate, volunteer or get involved!

FCLP Committee Updates

During the 5/17/2022 business meeting for the Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee the following actions were taken.

The following individuals were elected to the following roles:

Central Committee

Chair – Michael Sweeney
Vice-Chair – John Stewart
Treasurer – Chris Gill
Secretary – Ken Holpp

Executive Committee

Chair – Michael Sweeney
Vice-Chair – Drake Lundstrom
Treasurer – Pat Hoffman
Secretary – Ken Holpp
At Large – Jordan Bertke
At Large – John Stewart
At Large – Chris Gill

After the elections we discussed and voted on the following changes to the FCLPO By-Laws:

Bylaw D – Central Committee, Section 2.

In the event the Secretary of State denies ballot access as a recognized party, Central Committee shall dissolve at the end of their term. After dissolution a new Executive Committee will be chosen by direct election and assume the duties of this committee not already conferred.

FCLP Bylaws. https://www.fclpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/FranklinCountyBylaws_rev2022.pdf

These changes were adopted by unanimous vote and should be considered applied to the current Central and Executive Committee.

Thanks to everyone for your patience and generous assistance.

—

Michael Sweeney

Chair, Franklin County Libertarians

2022 FCLP Central Committee Election Closed

The following individuals have been elected to the Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee.

John S. Stewart – Gahanna Ward 04
Patrick J Hoffman – Madison Township
Kenneth D. Holpp – Worthington Ward 01
Michael Sweeney – Gahanna Ward 03
Jordan T Bertke – Hilliard Ward 04
David Nadolny – Worthington Ward 02

The meeting of the full committee, election for Central Committee officers and Executive Committee officers, will occur at the next regular county party business meeting on May 17th, 2022.

Help get the Libertarian Party back on the ballot!

We need your help to get the Libertarian Party regain ballot access in Ohio. This article helps explain what ballot access is, why it is important to us, and why the Libertarian Party of Ohio does not currently have it. To volunteer, check the “Circulate Petitions” or “Validate Petitions” box on the Volunteer form.

What is “ballot access”?

“Ballot access” is the right to put a political party label under a candidate’s name on the ballot. Having ballot access also enables a party to hold a primary. Under Ohio law (ORC 3501.38, amended in 2013 by Senate Bill 193), a political party must get 3% of the vote for Governor or 3% of the vote for President to gain ballot access for four years. The party must again get 3% of the vote for President or Governor to renew its access for another four years. Supporters of SB 193 designed and timed this bill to prevent the Libertarian Party of Ohio (LPO) from appearing on the ballot in 2014. To correct this injustice, the LPO filed several lawsuits. The federal district court in the first case, Libertarian Party of Ohio v. Husted, ordered the Secretary of State to keep the LPO on the ballot in 2014 (Court documents). This case went to the Supreme Court of the United States, which decided to let stand a federal appeals court ruling against the LPO. A suit filed in the state court system in 2015 challenged the constitutionality of SB 193 on the basis of Article V, Section 7 of the Ohio Constitution.

Why the Party needs to circulate petitions now

The law requires us to circulate petitions containing more than 55,000 valid signatures (with at least 500 each from eight of Ohio’s 16 Congressional Districts), and file them by August 2023 to allow our candidates to show the Libertarian label on the ballot. Because petition gathering usually results in a large number of invalid signatures, the state party will attempt to gather at least 110,000 signatures statewide. The Libertarian Party of Ohio office will be open throughout this year to receive and validate signatures using a method proven successful in our effort to get our 2020 Presidential candidate Gary Johnson on the Ohio ballot as a Libertarian. Volunteers are validating the signatures in a process so laborious that — to do the process correctly — it would take a full-time employee over a year and a half to validate the petitions.

Get involved today!

LPO submitted 102k signatures to regain ballot access in 2018.

2022 1st Ohio Primary Election Instructions

TOMORROW, MAY 3RD is the first Ohio Primary Election for 2022.

tl;dr If you are a Libertarian in Ohio, be certain to pull an “issues only” ballot for the Ohio Primary Election.

If you intend to join or remain a member of the Libertarian Party of Ohio, and also intend to vote in the Ohio Primary, you must remember to request an “issues only” ballot from your poll workers.Be sure to verify that you were issued an “issues only” ballot and do not have primary candidates for the Republican or Democratic parties.If you do participate in either major party primary you will not be eligible for elected, and in some cases appointed, roles in the state and county Libertarian Parties in Ohio.Be kind and considerate, most poll workers are volunteers and received an hour of rushed training.

FCLPO Central Committee Elections 2022

Please consider this the announcement for the 2022 Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee election.

“In the event the Secretary of State denies ballot access as a recognized party, Central Committee elections shall take place at a central location, at a time and place agreed upon by the outgoing Central Committee.
Elections shall be held in even-numbered years in the same month as the official state primary election.”

The LPO Office will be open to the public for voting in the Central Committee Election from 9am to 6pm, May 3rd, 2022.

After 6pm the votes will be tallied and the new Central Committee will be announced.
At the discretion of the new Central Committee a meeting may be held immediately to elect Central Committee officers, a new Executive Committee, and conduct other party business.
If no meeting is held the election for Central Committee officers and Executive Committee will be scheduled for the next regular ExCom meeting on May 17th, 2022.The following current Central Committee members are running for election. (If you would like to be added for election, please reply to this announcement before April 2nd, and include reliable contact information; contact name, phone and email, so we can be in touch.)

John S. Stewart – Gahanna Ward 04
Drake Lundstrom – Gahanna Ward 04
Patrick J Hoffman – Madison Township
Kenneth D. Holpp – Worthington Ward 01
Michael Sweeney – Gahanna Ward 03
Jordan T Bertke – Hilliard Ward 04
David Nadolny – Worthington Ward 02

Franklin County Libertarian Party
c/o Ohio Libertarian Party
6230 Busch Blvd, Suite 102
Columbus, Ohio 43229

—
Michael Sweeney
Secretary, Central Committee, Franklin County Libertarians

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