CADIZ — Two men are vying for the Republican nomination to one open Harrison County commission seat in the primary election.

Incumbent Don Bethel is being challenged by Dustin Corder.

“It’s an honor to serve the people of Harrison County as commissioner,” Bethel said in a text message. “And I’m humbly asking for the opportunity to be rehired and continue to help lead Harrison County toward a better future during the next four years.”

Bethel, who is in his 12th year in office, is being challenged by a Nottingham Township resident.

“The county is important to me. I want to improve the relationship between the commissioners’ office and the townships and villages,” Corder said in a prepared statement. “I want to create great working relationships with the other county offices. I believe this starts with open lines of communication between everyone. With better relationships we can work on growth in the county. With growth and development comes jobs and capital investments into the county.

“We need to give the kids of this county a reason to stay here. These children are the future of Harrison County, and we want them settling down here, raising families here and starting businesses here.”

County Auditor Allison Anderson, a Republican from Cadiz, is seeking re-eletion and is unopposed. County Recorder Joshua Willis, another Cadiz Republican, is on the ballot but is seeking a seat as Shortcreek Central Republican Committee member.

Also, Republican county Commissioner Paul Coffland, also of Cadiz, is running for Southwest Republican Central Committee member. Also running unopposed is state Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport.

There are sticking points to this year’s primary, Harrison County Board of Elections Director Dion Troiano said. The main one is the redistricting map prompted by the 2020 census. The map was rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court in January due to gerrymandering. The primary is slated for May 3, but it is unclear whether it can occur then.

Troiano said a second primary could be held as late as August. He said elections between individual candidates, such as Corder and Bethel, would not be affected by changes to the map and are expected to be part of the May 3 primary. What could be affected are the four state central party committee seats, the U.S. House of Representatives seat and the General Assembly seats.

“To certify candidates they have 90 days before an election to file as a candidate then about an additional two weeks to file for any write-ins,” Troiano said.

“So that brings you down to about 60 days before the election and by the time you get the write-ins then protests against any candidate petitions or any write-ins, they have deadlines to file protests so we have to give them time to do those. And then about 60 days before the election we cut off voter registration.”

Troiano said there are many other logistical items that figure into preparing for an election, including ballot language, proofing and the layout of the ballots.

April 4 is the deadline for voters to register, which is also the deadline for filing corrections and challenges to precinct registration lists.