Local Ohio Election Recap: One Vote Mattered In Cleves, Harrison Voters Approve Energy Aggregation

By Mike Perleberg Village of Cleves photo. (Cleves, Oh.) - Just one vote was the difference in the defeat of a safety services tax levy in the Village of Cleves. Voters there on Tuesday were asked to decide on the levy to help prevent cuts at the Cleves Police Department. It failed by the slimmest of margins, 292 votes to 291 votes, according to unofficial results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections. A recount may be needed to ultimately decide the outcome of the ballot issue. The village’s FAQ about the tax levy states that if the levy failed, “there may be reduced or minimal safety service coverage, which means significantly delayed response times. The quality of safety services will be greatly compromised with additional reductions.” SOUTHWEST LOCAL SCHOOLS’ THIRD ATTEMPT AT PASSING A BOND ISSUE AND TAX LEVY FOR NEW SCHOOLS WAS SUCCESSFUL. READ MORE HERE. Cleves voters also selected four village council members: Kevin Burns, Stephen Myers, Tiffiney Myers, and Todd Williams. Ron Hatfield received only eight votes to be the odd man out in that race for four council positions. In Harrison, voters selected four citizens to serve on city council. Ethan Dole, Ryan Grubbs, Michael Mains and Urbano Galindo won election to four-year terms on city council. Carol Wiwi was the losing fifth candidate in the race for four seats. Harrison citizens may also pay less for energy services. Voters approved two issues, one allowing an electricity aggregation system and another allowing a gas aggregation system, by 60-to-40 percent votes Tuesday. The passage allows the city to contract with Blue Ash-based Energy Alliances to reduce the cost of electricity and natural gas. Residents will have the ability to opt-out of the aggregation programs. There were two statewide ballot issues on Ohio ballots. Voters threw their support behind crime victims by approving Issue One, also known as Marsy's Law. It passed overwhelmingly, 83-to-17 percent, creating a "bill of rights" for crime victims and their families. The controversial Issue Two, which would have reduced the state's prescription drug costs for prisoners, the poor and injured workers, was soundly rejected after an expensive campaign fight from both sides. About 79 percent of voters were against it. RELATED STORIES: Southwest Local Schools Will Build New Schools With Bond Issue, Levy Passage Harrison Residents To Vote On Electric Aggregation System This Fall VIDEO: Harrison City Council Candidates Talk School Levy, Economic Development