The Ohio Senate Republican Caucus has accepted applications for the 18th Senate District vacancy created by the appointment of Tim Grendell as Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court judge.

Among three candidates rumored to be the front-runners for the appointment are former state Rep. Jamie Callender and Trustee Christopher Galloway, both of Concord Township, and state Rep. Ron Young of Leroy Township.

Currently the 18th District consists of all of Lake and Geauga counties, plus a portion of eastern Cuyahoga County.

Regardless of who gets the appointment, what if there is a Republican primary in March for the new 18th Senate District, that will consist of half of Lake County, two-thirds of Geauga County and all of Portage County?

Suppose Young gets the appointment, would Callender or Galloway run against him next year? Remember, the filing deadline for candidates to turn in candidacy petitions for the March primary is Dec. 7.

With Young potentially appointed as a senator, there would also be a need for someone to be appointed to become the new state representative for Ohio House District 63, which currently consists of Mentor and eastern Lake County. Concord Township is not part of that district.

Perhaps Callender or Galloway is appointed as state representative? Would the person not selected then run against Young in an Ohio Senate Republican primary?

If Galloway gets the appointment, Young most likely seeks re-election as state representative, but does Callender continue his campaign for Ohio Senate and potentially run against an appointed Galloway?

If Callender gets the appointment and Young stays in the Ohio House, does Galloway then run in a Republican primary against appointed Callender?

Congratulations

To state Rep. Lorraine Fende and Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Larry Allen, who plan to marry and live in Kirtland.

Fende, who now lives in Willowick, will move to the new Ohio Senate 18th District when she moves to Kirtland.

As a resident of Willowick, she would not have been eligible to run in the 18th District for the 2012 election because Willowick will part of the new Ohio Senate District 25, which will consist of the new Ohio House District 60 in Lake County and Districts 8 and 12 in Cuyahoga County.

Because she is in her fourth term as a state representative, Fende cannot run for Ohio House of Representatives in 2012.

Potential candidates?

People who have recently requested candidacy petitions from the Lake County Elections Board include Prosecutor Charles E. Coulson; Coroner Lynn A. Smith; Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap; Common Pleas Court Judge Vincent A. Culotta; Clerk of Courts Maureen G. Kelly; Eleventh District Court of Appeals Judge Mary Jane Trapp; Leroy Township Trustee Linda Burhenne, who took out petitions for commissioner; and Eastlake Mayor Ted Andrzejewski, who took out petitions for commissioner and county treasurer.

Deadline

For candidates or others who would like to submit information for this column, the deadline is 5 p.m. each Wednesday. Email and faxes are preferred.

Fundies

n Gabe Cicconetti, candidate for Painesville Township trustee, will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at Park Road Bar in Painesville Township. See Cicconetti or Tom Hill.

n Willowick Council President Judy Moran, fourth Annual Oktoberfest, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Regovich’s Catering in Eastlake. See Kathy Russo or Kevin Malecek.

n Tim Snyder, Chardon Municipal Court candidate, hosts a clambake Oct. 22. Doors open at 2 p.m. at Pine View Lake, Munson Township. See Snyder or Tiffany Snyder.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah