Delaware County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

Joe St. John is a Republican candidate who ran for Delaware County Commission in Ohio. He currently serves as the Mayor of the City of Sunbury, where he has focused on responsible growth and fiscal management. St. John aims to bring experienced leadership, fiscal discipline, and common-sense decision-making to county government.

Priorities: Investing in infrastructure · Protecting taxpayers and ensuring fiscal discipline · Guiding responsible growth by ensuring "growth pays for growth"

Renee Vaughan is a Republican candidate for Delaware County Commissioner in Ohio, currently serving as a Genoa Township Trustee. First elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, she has advocated for smart growth, fiscal responsibility, and local control. Vaughan emphasizes careful planning, responsible resource use, and open communication in public service.

Priorities: Fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets · Public safety and supporting law enforcement · Responsible growth and infrastructure planning

Ryan Grissinger is a Democratic candidate for Delaware County Commissioner in the 2026 election. Living in Genoa Township with his five children, he aims to bring his experience in building scalable systems for growing companies to county government. Grissinger emphasizes the need for proactive planning to manage Delaware County's rapid growth, particularly concerning infrastructure and fiscal sustainability.

Priorities: Ensure new development funds its proportional share of infrastructure (roads, fire, EMS, water) to prevent costs from falling on existing residents. · Require operational funding to be secured for new projects before approval, promoting long-term sustainability for county services. · Implement a public 10-Year Growth Impact Forecast to transparently project the impact and cost of growth on county infrastructure.

Marianne Hemmeter is a Republican who was appointed to the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, effective February 11, 2025. She brings 27 years of legal experience to the bench, including nearly a decade serving as a judge with the Delaware Municipal Court. Hemmeter previously worked for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and as interim prosecuting attorney for Delaware County.

David Hejmanowski is a Republican who serves as the Judge of the Probate/Juvenile Division of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in Ohio, a position he has held since 2015. Prior to this, he served as a Magistrate and Juvenile Court Administrator for the same court. He is currently running for re-election to this division.

Priorities: Improving case flow and shortening timelines in court cases · Streamlining child neglect and abuse matters and diverting low-level juvenile offenders · Modernizing court technology and implementing a guardianship services board

George Kaitsa is the current Delaware County Auditor, a position he was appointed to in 2009 and has been re-elected to multiple times as a Republican. He has received the 'Distinguished Auditor Award' from the County Auditors’ Association of Ohio in 2012, 2017, and 2022. Kaitsa has a background in public finance and administration, having held senior management roles at both state and county levels.

Priorities: Support property tax reform to limit increases to no more than the rate of inflation. · Modernize the homestead exemption program for senior citizens, including increasing the exemption amount and adjusting income eligibility. · Monitor carryover balances of local jurisdictions to identify opportunities for lowering tax rates.

Donald Rankey Jr. is a Republican candidate for County Auditor in Delaware County, Ohio. A businessman and veteran public servant, he previously served as Delaware County Treasurer and as a Delaware City Councilman.

Priorities: Stop dramatic property tax increases and table the 2027 valuation revision · Streamline Board of Revision processes and extend the annual filing period · Advance a "50-75-100" senior property tax framework for significant reductions