Four file to run in race to replace outgoing Commissioner Al Landis 

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Feb. 7, 2022) – Three Republicans are vying for the party’s nomination in the race to replace outgoing Tuscarawas County Commissioner Al Landis, who’s hoping to continue his political career in the Ohio Senate.  

Matthew Ritterbeck, Sally Storad, and Kristen Zemis have filed to run for the seat that’s also being sought on the Democratic side by Mineral City Mayor Laurie Green. County Board of Elections Director Gail Garbrandt says the board will meet Monday morning to determine whether the prospective candidates in that race and others qualify to appear on the ballot.

“They look at the number of signatures. They look at how the forms are filled out, if they’re done correctly. Then, the petitions that were done correctly and have the required number of signatures, those will be certified, and those will be the candidates that are on the ballot.”

Garbrandt is expecting a high turnout for the primary because of the statewide races including the one for U.S. Senate.

“That’s the seat that Rob Portman currently holds, but he’s not running for re-election, and so you have quite a few Republicans that are filing and then you have Tim Ryan on the Democratic side. I know Jane Timken is one of the Republicans that are filing but we’ll get that part of the ballot from the Secretary of State’s Office because they don’t file here.”

County voters this year will also be choosing someone to take over for Commissioner Kerry Metzger, who stepped into the role last year after Joe Sciarretti resigned to take a job in the private sector. Only two candidates have filed to run in that race – Democrat Sam Hitchcock and Republican Greg Ress – although they could still end up facing an Independent challenger in November. 

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