Chardon turned the page on a long-running political feud Tuesday, as Steven Oluic unseated incumbent Jim Dvorak in the Republican primary for Geauga County commissioner. Voters rendered a clear local verdict after months of public infighting inside county government that featured accusations of mismanagement, litigation and investigations alongside the usual campaign talking points.
Unofficial returns show Oluic with 6,790 votes to Dvorak's 5,620, roughly 55% to 45%, with all 79 precincts reporting. Those totals appear in the Geauga County Board of Elections' cumulative results for the May 5 primary, according to the Geauga County Board of Elections.
County fights shaped the race
The primary played out against weeks of acrimony on the commissioners' dais that spilled into public meetings and court filings. Local reporting says the conflict featured a lawsuit, a temporary shutdown of a wastewater plant and a criminal probe into vendor contracts, all hanging over both campaigns, as reported by Cleveland.com.
Residents also turned out earlier this year to protest changes to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency's bylaws, and former commissioner Walter "Skip" Claypool filed suit alleging the amendments were improper. The Geauga County Maple Leaf reported that the dispute helped crystallize voter frustration, a theme Oluic leaned on heavily in his campaign.
What the candidates argued
Dvorak campaigned on his record of fiscal management and intergovernmental collaboration, pointing to lower property taxes and county projects as evidence of his stewardship, according to his campaign materials and the county commissioners' office. VoteDvorak.com notes he was first elected in 2018 and took office in 2019.
Oluic cast himself as a reform candidate who would restore transparency. He previously served as director of the Geauga County Department of Water Resources and now chairs the county's mental health and recovery services board. His June 2023 resignation from the water resources post was reported at the time by the Geauga County Maple Leaf, and his campaign highlights that record of county service.
Legal questions remain
Local reporting indicates that the feud produced legal fallout and prompted investigators to examine county contracting, although no criminal charges tied to the probe have been publicly announced. Cleveland.com and county records outline the lawsuits and complaints that set the backdrop for this spring's political drama.
Next steps
Oluic will be the Republican nominee for the November general election and is set to face either a Democratic or independent opponent, depending on upcoming filings and nominations. The unofficial results are posted by the county, and a full canvass and certification will follow the board's procedures, according to the Geauga County Board of Elections.
