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Valarie Gerlach
Valarie Gerlach (Democratic Party) ran for election for judge of the Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals. She lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Although Ohio held partisan judicial primaries, general judicial elections were officially nonpartisan.
Gerlach was previously a candidate for the Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals in the 2016 elections.[1] She defeated Paul Price in the March 15 primary and faced incumbent Judge Matthew McFarland in the November 8 general election. Gerlach was defeated.
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals
Mike Hess defeated Valarie Gerlach in the general election for Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Hess (R) | 61.1 | 102,284 |
| Valarie Gerlach (D) | 38.9 | 65,229 | ||
| Total votes: 167,513 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals
Valarie Gerlach advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Valarie Gerlach | 100.0 | 18,539 | |
| Total votes: 18,539 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals
Mike Hess defeated Kathleen Madden in the Republican primary for Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Hess | 60.9 | 25,244 |
| Kathleen Madden | 39.1 | 16,209 | ||
| Total votes: 41,453 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Selection method
The judges of the Ohio District Courts of Appeals are selected through partisan primary elections followed by nonpartisan general elections.[2] Courts of appeals candidates are chosen in their respective appellate districts.[2] In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election taking place 40 or more days after the vacancy occurred. If re-elected, the judge serves the remainder of his or her predecessor's unexpired term.[2] In 2007, Governor Ted Strickland issued an executive order creating a judicial appointment recommendation panel to assist in making new appointments. The panel evaluates applicants and advises the governor, but the governor is not bound to the panel's recommendations.[2]
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a judge must be:
- a district resident;
- at least six years in the practice of law; and
- under the age of 70.[2]
Selection of the chief judge
The chief judge of the Ohio District Courts of Appeal is chosen by peer vote and serves for one year.[2]
2016
Gerlach filed to run for a seat on the Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals, which is held by Judge Matthew McFarland.[1] She defeated Paul Price in the Democratic primary on March 15 and faced incumbent Judge Matthew McFarland in the general election on November 8.
Election results
November 8 general election
| Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals, McFarland's Seat, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Matthew McFarland Incumbent |
66.36% | 130,609 | |
| Democratic | Valarie Gerlach | 33.64% | 66,218 | |
| Total Votes (100% reporting) | 196,827 | |||
| Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results | ||||
March 15 primary election
| Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals, Judge McFarland's Seat Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Valarie Gerlach |
55.95% | 22,595 | |
| Democratic | Paul Price | 44.05% | 17,787 | |
| Total Votes | 40,382 | |||
| Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results | ||||
See also
- Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals
- Judicial selection in Ohio
- Courts in Ohio
- State judicial elections, 2018
- Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2018
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio
State courts:
Ohio Supreme Court • Ohio District Courts of Appeal • Ohio Courts of Common Pleas • Ohio County Courts • Ohio Municipal Courts • Ohio Court of Claims
State resources:
Courts in Ohio • Ohio judicial elections • Judicial selection in Ohio
