I don’t want to alarm you, but it’s T-minus 12 days until March 19′s primary election. If you feel like it’s sneaked up on you, don’t fret — we’ve got you covered. If you’re registered, check out your sample ballot to see what you can vote on. Then, take a look at our Dayton Daily News elections page to learn more about the races that matter most. I’ll detail a few of those races below for your review. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns or tips. I can be reached at 614-981-1422, avery.kreemer@coxinc.com or @AveryKreemer on X. You can also follow our political coverage on our website and through our Ohio Politics Facebook page. Property tax hike’s impact on local levies Something to consider: Our reporting explores the question: How will local levies fare on Election Day, given that many property owners across the state have already seen a considerable increase to their property tax bill? Local scope: In February, Montgomery County homeowners saw their tax bill raise by 6%, on average. Property owners in some places, like Miami Twp., experienced an increase of over 12%, according to the county auditor. A starker gulf can be found in Greene County, which experienced an average increase of 13% countywide while Xenia property owners saw a 21% rise, on average. The potential impact: Last November, with property tax adjustments well on their way, voters in Montgomery, Miami, Greene and Warren Counties passed only four of 17 levies that would increase taxes on property owners. That same election, all 22 flat renewal levies passed. For a list of local tax levies on the ballot this March, check out the full story. The race for Dayton’s up-for-grabs House seat Two well-known Dayton Democrats have their eyes on an empty Ohio House seat with no apparent Republican challenger this November. The candidates: Desiree Tims, the president of an influential progressive think tank and former White House and congressional staffer, is set to face off against Derrick Foward, a civil rights activist and former leader of Dayton’s NAACP chapter. The context: House District 38, which consists largely of Dayton proper, has a Democratic lean so heavy that Montgomery County Republicans have opted not to put up a challenger this November. The seat is currently held by Rep. Willis Blackshear, Jr., D-Dayton, who opted to run for Ohio Senate instead of reelection. For a full breakdown of the candidates and their positions, check out my full story. Local political news of the week • A local elections official avoids serious punishment: TheMontgomery County Board of Elections ordered Deputy Director Russ Joseph ordered to undergo more training after the Democratic official released a confidential county prosecutor memo to the chairman of the county Democratic Party. Lynn Hulsey and Sydney Dawes have the full story here. • Voting absentee? Check your envelopes: A vendor error saw 200 to 300 Montgomery County voters receive return envelopes imprinted with the Clermont County Board of Elections address, which is indeed the incorrect place to receive Montgomery County ballots. Lynn Hulsey breaks down the snafu. • Mayoral showdown for Greene County commission: The current mayor of Xenia and the former mayor of Beavercreek are competing for an open Greene County commission seat made vacant by incumbent commissioner Rick Perales’ decision not to run for reelection. No Democrats have mounted a campaign. London Bishop has the story. State political news of the week • The race for an open Ohio Senate seat in Clark, Greene and Clinton Counties: Former state Rep. Kyle Koehler of Springfield and current Sugarcreek Twp. Trustee Carolyn Destefani are competing in the Republican primary to replace incumbent, term-limited Sen. Bob Hackett, R-London. Read my breakdown of the two candidates here. • Where Dayton’s Senate District 6 Democratic Candidates stand: We gave the three Democratic candidates hoping to rep Dayton in the Ohio Senate the same survey, formulated with the help from DDN readers. Here are their responses. National political news of the week • Ohio U.S. Senate debate: Three GOP candidates took to a local stage to tout their political alignment with former President Donald Trump and knock their counterparts’ conservative chops. Despite their relatively similar views, only one of them has actually been endorsed by Trump himself. Lynn Hulsey has the story. • Nikki Haley drops out: Trump’s final GOP opponent in the presidential primary officially threw in the towel, all but securing a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden this November. • Again? Political allegiances aside, it turns out that a majority of Americans doubt the mental capabilities of both the 81-year-old Biden and the 77-year-old Trump. Here’s the Associated Press story on the poll, with this observation from an Ohio voter: “Keep a close eye on the vice president ... Because that person will probably be the president in four years, one way or another.” | 
