Local voters pick party leaders

SANDUSKY — Local Democrats and Republicans decided elections Tuesday that picked members of their party's central committee. In Democratic races for District 2 Chris Redfern defeated Thomas H. Galloway, 11,128 to 9,749 in a race for state central Democratic committee man, according to unofficial figures released by the Ohio Secretary of State's office. Also, Elmore resident Susan Mulligan defeated Mary Margaret Murray of Sandusky in a race for Democratic committee woman, 10,464 to 9,877. Redfern is a former state representative and former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. A Marblehead resident, he notes that he is "the only Ohio Democratic Party Chairman on record to have served as chairman when the Democratic Party won gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and two presidential elections." Galloway, who lives in Perrysburg, is a retired locomotive engineer who has been active both as a Democrat and union member. Mulligan, married to former Ottawa County Prosecutor Mark Mulligan, has been very active organizing political groups in Ottawa County and is currently working to bring Dr. Amy Acton to Ottawa County for a political rally. Murray, a Sandusky attorney, has been a member of the central committee since 2006 and has been very active for years in local Democratic politics. She's also served on Erie County's park board. The 2nd District has all of Erie County, Huron County, Ottawa County, Wood County and parts of Lucas County. Republican leaders Meanwhile, Republican voters in the Second District elected John C. Adams in the state committee man race. Adams defeated Timothy Brentlinger 14,503 to 8,091. In the state committee woman race, Jill Stinebaugh bested Beth A. Deck, 15,848 to 6,750. Adams, a retired pastor, currently serves as a member of Erie County's election board. Brentlinger, also a minister, is chairman of the Lucas County Republican Central Committee. Stinebaugh serves as the chair of the Ottawa County Republican Party and had numerous endorsements, including from state Rep. D.J. Swearingen. Deck is the current state central committee woman. She ran as a Republican for the Ninth District U.S. House seat in 2022 but lost in the primary, which was won by J.R. Majewski.