Now that Tuesday’s primary election is over, we know the local candidates for the Nov. 6 election.

One of the more surprising results is that Geauga County will have a new county commissioner.

That’s because Munson Township Republican Ralph Spidalieri defeated incumbent Commissioner Mary Samide in the GOP primary for the commissioner term commencing Jan. 3.

In November, Spidalieri faces Christopher John Lacny, a Burton Township Democrat. As a Democrat in a heavily Republican county, Lacny likely faces a tough but not impossible challenge as there no longer will be an incumbent for the position.

Also in Geauga County, Matt Lynch, a Bainbridge Township Republican, easily got his party’s nomination for the Ohio House of Representatives 76th District as he defeated three opponents. Lynch will face Democrat Tom Warren of Russell Township in November.

Based on what Ohio House of Representatives GOP officials have previously said, Lynch is now in line to be appointed as the new state representative for the 98th House District to complete the two-year term that expires at the end of this year.

State Rep. Mary Brigid Matheney, R-Bainbridge Township, was appointed last month by the Ohio House Republican Caucus with the understanding that she would step down after the results of the 76th House District Republican primary were official.

That temporary appointment was designed by officials as a way to help 98th House District Republican voters have a say in who represented them for now because their representative had been appointed since former state Rep. Matt Dolan resigned in early 2010 to run for Cuyahoga County executive.

The reason the two House districts are numbered differently is because the boundaries will change next year due to reapportionment, but the current 98th district and the new 76th district each include territory in Geauga County.

In Lake County, Commissioner Daniel P. Troy, a Willowick Democrat, won his party’s nomination for the 60th House District. He faces Painesville Republican Lori DiNallo in November.

After Troy cleared that hurdle, there are likely to be some Democrats maneuvering for a potential commissioner appointment by the Lake County Democratic Party if he does, in fact, win. More later on this.

Prediction recap

If you followed my 10 predictions last week about who I thought would win, you may have noticed I got six out of 10 correct.

Missed picks were Rick Santorum for GOP presidential primary in Ohio, Linda Burhenne for the GOP Lake County commissioner term commencing Jan. 3, John Rogers for Democratic Lake County treasurer, and Samide for GOP Geauga County commissioner.

Instead the winners respectively were Mitt Romney, John Hamercheck, Lorraine M. Fende and Spidalieri.

Fundies

n Campaign kickoff for Emilee Teresczuk, candidate for Lake County Clerk of Courts, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Frank and Pauly’s in Mentor. See Brian Wollet.

n St. Patrick’s Day Celebration for Robert E. Aufuldish, candidate for Lake County Commissioner, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites LaMalfa in Mentor. See Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour, Ernie Koenig.

n St. Patty’s Day Celebration for Nancy McArthur, candidate for Ohio Senate District 32, from 4 to 8 p.m. March 17. See Michael McArthur.

n Fundraiser for state Rep. Ron Young, 6 to 8 p.m. March 19 at Stadium Grill in Mentor. See Jini Gorg.

n Spring Fever Celebration for David Fiebig, candidate for Lake County commissioner, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 21 Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig or Cindy Quinn-Hopkins.

n Fundraiser for Werner Barthol, candidate for Lake County prosecutor, 6 to 8 p.m. March 22 at the Croatian Lodge in Eastlake. See James Falvey or Kelly Barthol.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah