The primary election Tuesday is just a few days away and there are many candidates for partisan voters to decide.

There will be some tough choices and some voters might not make up their mind until the last minute.

With that said, several of the contested primaries in Lake and Geauga counties and Ohio were tough for me to pick winners and I could be wrong on quite a few, but here are my predictions (not meant to imply endorsement) for some of them.

GOP nomination for president

Candidates: Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum,

Comment: Should be a tight race between Romney and Santorum.

Prediction: Santorum

Lake County commissioner
Democrat

(Term commencing Jan. 2)

Candidates: Ted Andrzejewski, Judy Moran

Comment: Another very close race, could go either way, but Moran ran countywide in 2008, and in 2010 for state central committee.

Prediction: Moran

Lake County commissioner
Republican

(Term commencing Jan. 2)

Candidates: David M. Fiebig, Richard Shreve

Comment: Classic battle between western and eastern Lake County. Winner of Mentor vote should win race.

Prediction: Fiebig

Lake County commissioner
Democrat

(Term commencing Jan. 3)

Candidates: Robert E. Aufuldish, Daniel W. Tharp

Comment: Hard to see Aufuldish lose the primary.

Prediction: Aufuldish

Lake County commissioner
Republican

(Term commencing Jan. 3)

Candidates: Linda Burhenne, John Hamercheck

Comment: Two elected officials from eastern county communities, perhaps Burhenne a little more known countywide.

Prediction: Burhenne

Lake County Treasurer
Democrat

Candidates: Lorraine M. Fende, Christine J. Page, John M. Rogers

Comment: Difficult pick, but I think Rogers wins a squeaker followed by Fende, then Page.

Prediction: Rogers

Lake County Treasurer
Republican

Candidates: Belinda Grassi, Bob Patterson

Comment: A former Concord trustee, Patterson may have higher name ID.

Prediction: Patterson

Geauga County commissioner
Republican

Candidates: Mary Samide, Ralph Spidalieri

Comment: It will be difficult to knock out the incumbent.

Prediction: Samide

Ohio House District 60 Democrat

Candidates: Laura A. DePledge, James Helmink, Daniel P. Troy

Comment: Troy should prevail, but it might be close with Helmink nipping at Troy’s heels.

Prediction: Troy

Ohio House District 76 Republican

Candidates: Matt Lynch, Mary E. O’Toole, Kristina Port, Mark E. Porter

Comment: Tough to predict the order of finish, but Lynch’s name still in mind after a close race in November for Chardon Municipal Court.

Prediction: Lynch

Fundies

n Campaign kickoff for Emilee Teresczuk, candidate for Lake County Clerk of Courts, 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 14 Frank and Pauly’s in Mentor. See Brian Wollet.

n St. Patrick’s Day Celebration for Aufuldish, 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 15 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 Fiebig, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 21 Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig, Cindy Quinn-Hopkins.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah