Copyright cleveland.com
PAINESVILLE, Ohio — Polls have closed across Lake County, where voters are deciding races that could redefine local leadership — from who will guide Mentor’s schools and council to whether Wickliffe classrooms get the operating funds they need. Here’s a look at where the county’s most closely watched races stand as of 8 p.m., with early and absentee votes tallied, before numbers begin trickling in from the precincts: Mentor School Board In one of Northeast Ohio’s most high-profile school board contests, incumbents were leading in early results. Board president Maggie Cook had 21.9% of the vote, followed by Robert Haag at 20.5% and Daniel Hardesty at 19.7%. Challengers Robert Izzo (12.8%), Linda O’Brien (12.6%) and Don Schutz (12.5%) trailed in early returns. The three challengers, running as the “Team ISO” slate, campaigned on a message of “discipline and accountability” and pushed for more parental oversight of curriculum and library materials. Cook, Haag and Hardesty defended the district’s 4.5-star state rating and said the board should stay focused on academics, not politics. The outcome will determine control of the five-member board. Eastlake Mayor Early votes showed attorney Laura DePledge leading Kevin Kostelnik by just one vote — 295 to 294 — a margin of 50.1% to 49.9%. DePledge, a former council president and city prosecutor, and Kostelnik, the city’s retired service director, are vying to replace outgoing Mayor James Overstreet, who was eliminated in the May primary but is seeking a council seat this fall. Mentor City Council At-Large In Mentor, longtime councilman Ray Kirchner held a commanding early lead over Scott Marn, 76.1% to 23.9% (1,985 to 623 votes). The two are competing for a single at-large seat on council. Kirchner has campaigned on public safety and infrastructure, while Marn’s bid followed controversy stemming from a pending federal lawsuit and prior police reports alleging misconduct, which he has denied. Wickliffe City Schools Early results showed voters leaning against the proposed 1% earned-income tax to fund day-to-day school operations, with 54.9% voting no (275 votes) and 45.1% voting yes (226 votes). The proposal would replace a failed property tax levy from May and generate about $3 million a year for staffing, classroom instruction and transportation. Superintendent Mike Chokshi has said the measure is vital to avoid multimillion-dollar deficits and preserve key academic and extracurricular programs.
