With Tuesday’s election drawing near there are lots of races and issues in Lake County for voters to decide.

It can be tough to truly gauge who or what might win or lose beforehand, but here’s what I think right now about a few races.

These opinions are by no means endorsements.

Eastlake mayor
Candidates: Ted Andrzejewski, Dennis Morley
Prediction/Comment: Morley. Among the most difficult races to predict and I could also see Andrzejewski winning. Morley is the favorite after he was the top vote-getter in September for the three-candidate primary, which had a very low primary turnout. But Andrzejewski wins if his supporters get to the polls.

Mentor-on-the-Lake mayor
Candidates: Troy Elam, David Eva
Prediction/Comment: Eva. Also a difficult race to gauge as both have been involved in city politics for a long time, but I think the incumbent wins.

Painesville Township trustee (vote for two)
Candidates: Amy Cossick, T.R. Hach, Chuck Hillier, Beth A. Knezevich, Edmund G. Leoson, Susan McGuinness, Josh Pennock, Joshua J. Strickland and Frank J. Zalek Jr.
Prediction/Comment: Hillier, Pennock. I’ll be surprised if I’m correct on both picks for the two open seats because I think Cossick, McGuinness and Strickland each have good chances to be in the mix.

Willoughby Hills Council at large 2-year term
Candidates: John Plecnik, Joe Zawatski
Prediction/Comment: Zawatski. My upset pick because I think Plecnik is the favorite and he has a good chance to win especially because he’s spent a lot of money to raise his name recognition and get his message across. Zawatski appears to have more support from the current city administration.

Laketran continuous 0.25 percent sales tax renewal
Prediction/Comment: Pass. But probably by a closer margin than for past requests. I’m thinking around 55 percent support.

Lake County Children Services 5-year, 0.7-mill renewal
Prediction/Comment: Pass. Levy renewal is approved by a comfortable margin.

Willoughby-Eastlake Schools 5-year, renewal levy to generate $7,585,000 (est. 4.71 mills)
Prediction/Comment: Fail. Should be pretty close, but a 10-year levy request for the same amount of dollars didn’t pass in May.

Hear ye, hear ye

The race in 2014 for Lake County Probate Court judge has started to take shape as two potential candidates took out petitions to run next year. Republican Judge Mark J. Bartolotta took out petitions to retain the seat after his appointment in September to fill the vacancy after former Judge Ted Klammer died.

Mentor Prosecutor Lisa Klammer, daughter of the late judge, also has taken out petitions to run. No one has filed yet to run and they have until Feb. 5 to do so.

But if they both file and eventually meet up in the November 2014 election, it should be quite the race to watch next year.

Ohio Senate District 25

Former state Rep. Ed Jerse, a Euclid Democrat, has pulled candidacy petitions to run for Ohio Senate District 25.

The district consists of Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Lakeline, Mentor Ward 4, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, parts of Painesville Township, Timberlake, Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willowick in Lake County, plus Euclid, Richmond Heights and other eastern Cuyahoga County communities.

Former state Rep. Kenny Yuko, a Richmond Heights Democrat, also has announced he’s running for the position in 2014.

If both men do file to run for the petitions, it will make an very interesting primary involving two former state representatives.

State Sen. Nina Turner, D-Cleveland, who currently represents the district, has announced plans to run in 2014 for Ohio Secretary of State.

Deadline

For candidates who wish to submit items for this column, my weekly deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday. Email and faxes are preferred.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Now that Gov. John Kasich has appointed Mark Bartolotta to serve as Lake County Probate Court judge, look for some other developments to shake out involving who might run for other county judicial offices in 2014.

Lake County Assistant Prosecutor John O’Donnell, who was one of four finalists for the Probate Court appointment, quickly pulled candidacy petitions to run for the Lake County Common Pleas Court seat on the bench held by Judge Joe Gibson.

Due to age limits for judges, Gibson is not able to seek re-election, so that leaves an open seat up for grabs.

Look for O’Donnell, a Willowick Republican who also serves as a city councilman, to announce fairly soon that he will run for the judicial position.

Will any other Republicans decide to run for the seat?

On the Democratic side, how about attorney Ron Graham, who ran against Judge Vincent A. Culotta in the 2004 election?

Dennis N. Loconti finished second to Gibson in the 2008 Democratic Party. Would he be interested in another run?

How about Paul Miller? He was a finalist for the recent county Public Defender appointment and ran in the Democratic primary in 2008 for county Juvenile Court judge.

If not for a Common Pleas position, would Miller have any interest in running again for Juvenile Court judge? Judge Karen Lawson, a Republican, also will be on the ballot next year.

So will the seat on the Domestic Relations Court bench held by Judge Colleen A. Falkowski, a Democrat. She was unopposed in 2008.

It’s early, but I’m not hearing of any potential Republican interest for a primary against Bartolotta for Probate Court judge.

By the way, Bartolotta was sworn in Thursday by Culotta during a private ceremony and is scheduled to begin service on the bench on Monday. A public swearing in ceremony is planned Sept. 30 for Bartolotta at the courthouse.

Mentor Prosecutor Lisa Klammer, a Democrat, is said to have interest in running for the Probate Court seat.

Eastlake mayor race set

Eastlake Council President Dennis Morley and incumbent Mayor Ted Andrzejewski were the top two finishers in Tuesday’s mayor primary, so they will now face each other on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Councilwoman Cindy Quinn-Hopkins finished third, meaning she does not advance.

The special election attracted about 19 percent of the city’s registered voters. Election officials said that’s a good turnout for this type of election.

I find it rather disappointing that not even one out of every five voters bothered to take the time to cast a ballot to help determine who should be the city’s top elected official.

Candidate endorsements

Candidates in Lake, Geauga and eastern Cuyahoga counties who appear on the Nov. 5 ballot may send in listings of endorsements they receive for the upcoming election via email, fax or standard mail. They will appear online periodically on The News-Herald’s Northern Ohio Politics blog.

Event

Perry Township Trustee candidate Bob Dawson hosts a meet the candidate picnic from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at Perry Township Park.

Fundies

n Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy hosts Fall Classic Golf Outing and Clam Bake, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start Sept. 27 at Lost Nation Municipal Golf Course in Willoughby. See Kip Molenaar.

n Eric Condon, candidate for Euclid Council Ward 8, hosts Cleveland vs. Buffalo Tailgate Party, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 3 at Paradise Island Saloon in Euclid. See Condon.

n Dennis Morley, candidate for Eastlake mayor, hosts Steak Roast Fundraiser, 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at Boracs Landing in Eastlake. See Donna Vaughn or Dale Bradley.

n State Rep. John Rogers hosts fall clambake, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Mentor Beach Park in Mentor-on-the-Lake. See Rogers or Kip Molenaar.

n Lake County Commissioner Judy Moran hosts Oktoberfest 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at American Legion Hall in Willowick. See Paul Miller or Kevin Malecek.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Let’s just go ahead and call the three-way battle for Eastlake mayor as the most interesting candidate race this year in Lake County.

Incumbent Mayor Ted Andrzejewski and Council President Dennis Morley filed to run a while back before the July 19 deadline and already started fundraising for their campaigns. It appeared initially this would be a showdown between the two men.

Councilwoman Cindy Quinn-Hopkins surprised many with her decision to run, and she eventually filed to run for mayor less than two hours before the deadline.

So what we have here is a special nonpartisan primary to be held on Sept. 17 in Eastlake. It will be the only one this fall in the county because other races with a July 19 filing deadline did not have enough candidates file to trigger a special primary.

What makes the Eastlake mayor race so intriguing is the top two finishing candidates in the primary will advance to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. Whomever finishes third is out.

To handicap the race as of right now, I would consider Andrzejewski a slight favorite, followed closely by Morley and Quinn-Hopkins.

Campaign issues obviously include managing city finances and — more recently — whether the city pool should have been opened this summer.

Some residents might support Andrzejewski for his desire to use a projected city surplus to open the pool, while City Council cited financial concerns in their decision to keep the pool closed.

Before the race rounded into shape, Morley and Quinn-Hopkins previously had seemed to be on the same page in opposition to Andrzejewski as mayor, so it will be interesting to see how that relationship evolves as the campaign ensues.

Some whisper Quinn-Hopkins entered the race because it provides an additional chance to oust Andrzejewski by forcing a three-way primary. If the mayor finishes third, then he isn’t re-elected.

Others say although the mayoral race is nonpartisan and political parties aren’t listed on the ballot, Quinn-Hopkins gives Republicans a candidate. Andrzejewski and Morley are both registered Democrats.

Quinn-Hopkins told me after she filed that she is excited to become a leader in the community and noted it’s been a long time since a woman was mayor.

Regardless of why they run, the candidates are certified and there is little time for them to waste.

Absentee voting for the primary for uniformed and overseas citizens begins Aug. 3 (45 days before the election). The general public can start to vote Aug. 13 (35 days before the election). Voter registration for the primary race closes Aug. 19.

Event

Lake County Democratic Party Summer Picnic will be noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 11 at Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland. No cost to attend, but RSVP required by contacting the county Democratic Party.

Fundies

n Fundraiser for Mentor Councilman Ray Kirchner, 5:30 to 8 p.m. today at Cabanas Restaurant in Mentor. See George Maier or Kirchner.

n State Rep. Ron Young hosts Summer Sizzle fundraiser with special guest U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, 6 to 8 p.m. today at South River Winery in Harpersfield Township. See Young.

n Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish, 10th Annual Ferrante Winery Celebration in Harpersfield Township. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. See Ernie Koenig or Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour.

n State Rep. John Rogers hosts a golf outing Aug. 9 at Madison Country Club. See Rogers or Kip Molenaar.

n Mentor-on-the-Lake Councilwoman Desirea Thompson hosts a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 10 at Amvets Post 109 in Mentor on the Lake. See Desirea or John Thompson.

n Lake County Commissioner Judy Moran, first annual golf outing scramble, 11:30 a.m. lunch Aug. 15 at Madison Country Club. See Kevin Malecek or Paul Miller.

n Fundraiser for Riverside School Board Member Belinda Grassi and Jennifer Harden, a candidate for Riverside School Board, 3 to 6 p.m. Aug. 18 at Pickle Bills in Grand River. See Grassi or Harden.

n Lake County Treasurer-elect Lorraine M. Fende hosts 8th annual Steakroast from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Wickliffe Italian American Club. See Diane Fox.

n Kenny Yuko, a candidate for Ohio Senate District 25, hosts a Gala Reception with special guest state Rep. Connie Pillach who is a candidate for Ohio Treasurer, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at The Patrician in Eastlake. See Yuko or Pamela Yuko.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Eastlake Ward 3 Councilwoman Cindy Quinn-Hopkins pulled petitions Wednesday from the Lake County Elections Board to run for Eastlake mayor.

The filing deadline to run for mayor in Eastlake is July 17 and if three candidates or more have filed to run there would be a nonpartisan primary election on Sept. 17.

The top two vote-getters would then face each other during the Nov. 5 election.

So far Mayor Ted Andrzejewski and Eastlake Council President Dennis Morley have filed to run for the position.

Quinn-Hopkins has not yet filed for the position, but it will be interesting to see if she does and, if so, how it would impact the race for mayor.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

The campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama will open a field office tonight in Eastlake.

Mayor Ted Andrzejewski will provide remarks during the event that begins at 7 p.m. at 35560 Vine St.

The Obama campaign said the Eastlake office will serve as a community hub for 2012 election activities in Lake County and this office opening is just the latest step in building up the campaign infrastructure across Ohio as election season ramps up.

Andrzejewski will thank volunteers for their efforts to help re-elect Obama and discuss the choice in this election between two fundamentally different visions of how to grow the economy, create middle-class jobs and pay down the debt.

Campaign officials said the choice is between Obama’s vision of moving America forward to an economy built to last with a strong middle class at its core or Mitt Romney’s vision of going back to the same “top-down” economic policies that crashed our economy and punished the middle class.

Following the speaking program, supporters will participate in a statewide night of action, hitting the phones to talk to their friends and neighbors about the stark choice in this election.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah