LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio —
Voters will nominate a candidate for Lucas County Commissioner in the race's Democratic primary Tuesday.
Either current commissioner Anita Lopez, who was appointed in January to fill the remainder of Tina Skeldon-Wozniak's term, state Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) or write-in candidate Knute Huber will receive the party's nomination and face Republican John Rozic in the November general election.
Lopez is currently serving in the setup for election and served as county auditor for 16 years prior.
"It's really been great for me to be able to use that experience and then build on it and help that foundation to help serve the county," Lopez said.
Hicks-Hudson has held multiple election positions serving the area. She is a former Toledo City Council member, former Toledo mayor and former state representative. She said she decided to run for county commissioner to be a link between local and state government.
"We're at a cusp in the county and it's an opportunity using my skills to us move forward, to build stronger bridges and relationships with the folks in Columbus," Hicks-Hudson said.
Huber is running as the write-in candidate to make improvements to Lucas County 911 after his wife's murder. He is currently suing Lucas County 911 because his wife, Johey Crawford, was shot while he said dispatchers were confused over her address.
Lopez and Hicks-Hudson want to focus on building jobs to support the county's economic development. Hicks-Hudson said she wants to ensure people have the right education.
"I absolutely want and will work to develop opportunities for people to stay here in our area and to work and have productive lives," Hicks-Hudson said. "I see that by doing a number of things. Working with our universities and our advance areas such as the technical schools."
She said she wants to find ways to increase Owens Community College's presence.
Lopez said jobs for Jeep workers is a priority of hers.
"We just lost 341 jobs," Lopez said. "So my primary goal is to make sure that we get them jobs immediately to work with the UAW leadership and get those individuals who were fired jobs. And then second to continue to build 500 jobs annually."
When it comes to the environment, Hicks-Hudson said algal blooms were a concerning issue for her when she served as Toledo mayor from 2015-2018.
"I continue to work and figure out ways in which to help farmers still be able to be sustainable but also making sure the lake is moving forward toward healing," she said.
Lopez said the county commission is already working to help lake health. The county commission filed an amicus brief in early March, challenging the EPA on how to protect lakes.
Public safety was another topic both Lopez and Hicks-Hudson hope to address if elected.
Lopez said the goal is to address issues before they happen.
"We're trying to get into the neighborhood, not respond after the issues have happened," Lopez said. "We're working closely with community leaders and civil rights leaders to be boots on the ground to prevent violence rather than reacting to violence."
Hicks-Hudson said she wants to ensure the county government is a resource people can feel comfortable talking to.
"To take a lead and really listen," Hicks-Hudson said. "Go out and talk to the various folks, figure out what it really is that they’re looking for from county government and partnering then with the cities to come up with plans to make it better for all of us here."
For more information about the primary election and to find your polling place, visit WTOL 11's voter guide.