By TODD HELBERG

cnedit@crescent-news.com

One race for Defiance County office was relatively close Tuesday while two others were blowouts. But all went to Republicans.

Meanwhile, on a day when voter turnout in this county topped 70 percent, three tax issues -- all replacements or renewals -- were easily approved.

Of the county's three contested elections, the prosecutor's race was the closest with longtime assistant prosecutor Morris Murray turning back Democrat Tim Holtsberry, by an unofficial 9,442-8,142 margin. Murray's margin was 7 percent.

"I'm very pleased with the outcome, and I'm very much appreciative of the people who helped and supported me, especially my family," said Murray, who plans to choose the full-time prosecutor option.

His victory leaves him with key questions such as who he will ask to join his staff and where his office will be located.

"A lot of decisions need to be made and there are a lot of things to talk about," said Murray. "I will be meeting with county commissioners in the days to come and we will start talking about what the options are."

Approximately three-fourths of the county's 42 precincts went to Murray.

Holtsberry, who is Defiance City Council's president and plans to seek re-election to that seat next year, said, "Of course we're a little disappointed," but he congratulated Murray and wished him luck.

"I appreciate all the volunteers we had," added Holtsberry. "I think we did all we could do with the resources we had."

The county's two other races -- for sheriff and recorder -- were never close.

Incumbent Republican Sheriff David Westrick outpolled Democrat Gary Smiddy, 12,424-5,793, while the recorder's race went to Republican Cecilia Parsons over Democrat Barb Powell, 10,348-7,159.

Westrick won nearly every county precinct in a race marked by controversial statements and claims of slander. But many observers expected a pointed campaign, given that Westrick fired Smiddy as a sheriff's deputy last year.

He wins a seventh term and his first contested election since the 1984 GOP primary.

Parsons' margin wasn't as large as Westrick's, but she took approximately five of every six county precincts.

All totaled, 11 Defiance County offices were up for election, but eight -- for probate/juvenile judge, common pleas judge, two commissioner seats, clerk of courts, treasurer, engineer and coroner -- were uncontested. Republicans were the only choice in all of them while six of eight returned incumbents.

All winners get four-year terms.

The incumbents included Commissioner Tom Kime, Commissioner Otto Nicely, common pleas Judge Joseph Schmenk, Treasurer Karen Tubbs, Engineer Warren Schlatter and Coroner Dr. Paul Brose.

The newcomers who won unopposed terms were Jeff Strausbaugh -- the outgoing county prosecutor -- for probate and juvenile judge and Amy Galbraith -- Strausbaugh's office manager -- for clerk of courts.

Both will replace outgoing Republicans who chose not to seek re-election. Strausbaugh will take over for Stephen Ruyle; Galbraith for Jean Ziegler.

No additional tax issues were decided in Defiance County, but two renewals and a replacement were approved.

County voters helped pass the Four County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services' .7-mill, five-year replacement levy for current expenses. Throughout the four counties (Defiance, Fulton, Henry and Williams), the issue passed, 37,414-31,707.

While the current levy generates $1,439,900 annually, the replacement will add $686,000 per year during the five-year period. This will mean an increase in taxes paid on the millage.

Meanwhile, Northeastern Local Schools saw its .5-mill, five-year levy for permanent improvements renewed by almost a 2-1 margin. Some 2,191 voters said yes while 1,210 said no.

And, Ney village's 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire protection also received strong support, 108-52.

Tuesday's election results remain unofficial as they must be certified this month by the county's board of elections. Officials must also count 600 provisional votes -- those cast by voters who had a change in their registration, such as a new address -- but these were not expected to impact any outcomes.

Turnout among the county's 26,500 registered voters was figured at more than 70 percent.

Unofficial results are:

County offices

Common pleas judge

4Joe Schmenk (R-inc.)..12,572

Common pleas/probate and juvenile judge

4Jeff Strausbaugh (R)....13,884

Commissioner, Jan. 1 term

4Otto Nicely (R-inc.).......12,693

Commissioner, Jan. 2 term

4Tom Kime (R-inc.)........13,064

Prosecuting attorney

4Morris Murray (R)...........9,442

Tim Holtsberry (D).............8,142

Clerk of courts

4Amy Galbraith (R)........13,077

Sheriff

4D. Westrick (R-inc.)......12,424

Gary Smiddy (D)...............5,793

Recorder

4Cecilia Parsons (R)......10,348

Barbara Powell (D)............7,159

Treasurer

4Karen Tubbs (R-inc.)....14,479

Engineer

4W. Schlatter (R-inc.).....13,330

Coroner

4Paul Brose (R-inc.).......13,386

Federal, state

offices

President, vice president

Baldwin-Castle (Const.).........85

Barr-Root (L)..........................78

Duncan-Johnson (I)...............14

4McCain-Palin (R)..........10,138

McKinney-Clemente (Green).37

Moore-Alexander (Socialist)...12

Nader-Gonzalez (I)...............148

Obama-Biden (D)..............8,058

Write-ins.................................36

5th District congressman

4Bob Latta (R-inc.).........11,569

George Mays (D)..............6,180

State representative

74th District

4B. Goodwin (R-inc.)......11,224

David Pilliod (D)................5,571

State representative

75th District

4Lynn Wachtmann (R-inc.).484

Supreme Court justice

Jan. 1 term

4M. O'Connor (R-inc.)....10,990

Joseph Russo (D).............3,971

Supreme Court justice

Jan. 2 term

4Evelyn Stratton (R-inc.)..9,925

Peter Sikora (D)................4,334

Attorney general

(special election)

4Michael Crites (R)..........8,317

Richard Cordray (D)..........8,061

Robert Owens (I).................721

3rd District Court

of Appeals, Feb. 9 term

4Vern Preston (R-inc.)...11,689

State board of education

1st District

4Ann Jacobs....................6,648

Tracey Smith.....................6,093

Tax, ballot issues

Four County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services District (ADAMhs): replacement of a .7-mill, five-year levy for current expenses: yes, 10,025; no, 7,798

Northeastern Local Schools: renewal of a .5-mill, five-year levy for permanent improvements: yes, 2,191; no, 1,210

Ney village: renewal of a 1.5-mill, five-year levy for providing fire protection and services, and maintaining fire apparatus, appliances, buildings or sites for such purpose: yes, 108; no, 52

State ballot issues

Issue 1: constitutional amendment to provide for earlier filing deadlines for statewide ballot issues: yes, 10,092; no, 5,936

Issue 2: constitutional amendment to authorize the state to issue bonds to continue the Clean Ohio program for environmental revitalization and conservation: yes, 10,796; no 6,589

Issue 3: constitutional amendment to protect private property rights in ground water, lakes and other watercourses: yes, 12,072; no, 5,137

Issue 5: referendum on legislation making changes to check cashing lending, sometimes known as "payday lending," fees, interest rates and practices: yes, 10,800; no, 6,848

Issue 6: constitutional amendment, by initiative petition, for a casino near Wilmington and distribute to all Ohio counties a tax on the casino: yes, 5,048; no, 13,625