School board candidates meeting tonight

Twenty-one days from Tuesday and counting. That's how many days we have before the Nov. 2 election. We heard from the people running for three spots on the Norwalk City Schools board of education a couple of weeks ago in an exclusive Q&A with all seven of the candidates. There will be a candidate's forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Norwalk Gathering on Main Street, hosted by Christ In Action (CIA). That group has endorsed three of the candidates — Alison Crawford, Shannon Mason and Jeremy Norris. Also running are incumbents Ralph Ritzenthaler, Steve Linder and Beth Schnellinger, along with Jim Lawrence. This is the biggest election for the school board in years, just months after the board selected Brad Cooley as its new superintendent. I think people should stop and do their homework before voting. And with early voting already started, Wednesday would be a good time to show up if you still haven't decided who you are voting for. Here is the schedule for early voting: Oct. 12-15: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18-22: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25-29: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 30: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31: 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 1: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early voting is in Meeting Room A of the Huron County Administration Building, 180 Milan Ave.; voters should use the entrance in the rear of the building. There also are a pair of big school levies in Monroeville and New London on the ballot along with a number of issues. Here is a rundown of the local ballot: City and villages Norwalk council at large: Bryan Lamb (R); Jordy Horowitz (I); Samantha Wilhelm (R); Stephen Euton (R); Stephen Schumm (R). Willard council 1st ward: Joe Daniel (NP). Willard council 2nd ward: Charles Danhoff (NP); Jacob McKenzie (NP). Willard council 3rd ward: David Sattig (NP). Willard council 4th ward: Michael Elmlinger (NP); Tara Hines (NP). Greenwich village council: Chance Fishbaugh (NP); Lynne Phillips (NP); Mike King (NP); Randy Wilson (NP); Regina Lueck (NP); Travis Wilson (NP). Monroeville village council: Bob Whitacre (NP); Chris Raftery (NP); Joseph Galea (NP); Samuel Wiley (NP). North Fairfield village council: Adam Rouse (NP); Casey Hacker (NP); Daniel Traxler (NP); Jeremy Antill (NP); Mary Millis (NP); Sharleen Coy (NP). Wakeman village council: Charles Delong (NP); Nathan Summers (NP); Reger Wallace (NP); Jacob Peters (NP). School boards Monroeville: Dan Bemis; Danielle Smith; Melissa Allen; Mike Helmstetter. New London: Abbie Fawcett; Domenic Maiani; Donald Patton; Molly Given; William Given. Norwalk: Alison Crawford; Beth Schnellinger; Jeremy Norris; Jim Lawrence; Ralph Ritzenthaler; Shannon Mason; Steve Linder. South Central: Don Englet. Western Reserve: Caleb Buck; Kris Green. Willard: Dave Lawrence; Dustin Hamons; Marsha Danhoff; Richard Willoughby; Victoria Branham. Townships Bronson trustee: Steve Scheel; Steve Rospert; Justin Myers. Clarksfield trustee: John McClaflin; James McClaflin; Lee Merrill. Fairfield trustee: Jeff Deeble; Dale Bond. Fitchville trustee: Josh Grosswiler; David Harlan; Jerry Frisch; William Hartman; Bruce Urich; Terry Grosswiler. Greenfield trustee: Chris Morgan; Jeremiah Huffman; Dale Smith. Greenwich trustee: Henry Calame. Hartland trustee: Richard Ruess; Doyle Stevens. Lyme trustee: Roger Hunker; William Seaman; Bradley Smith; Joe Lepley. New Haven fiscal officer: Rachel Buurma. New Haven trustee: Frank Smith. New London trustee: Bill Schwinn; Randy Fishbaugh. Norwalk trustee: Mike Kluding; Kevin Riley; Rich Marett; Daren Smith. Norwich trustee: Richard Wiles; Clifford Martin; Gerald Mahl. Peru trustee: Dan Martin; Nick Stang. Richmond trustee: Ben Kochel; Matt Schwab: Neil Weaver. Ridgefield trustee: Robert Schafer; Ricky Heck Jr. Riley trustee: Don Sparks; Mark Adams; Tim Clemons. Sherman trustee: Todd Bischoff; Ronald Myers. Townsend trustee: Byron Yaussy; Ethan Patrick. Wakeman: Dale Daniels; Seth Todd. Joe Centers is Reflector managing editor. He can be reached at jcenters@norwalkreflector.com. If you have any comments about the election feel free to email them to me.