The Knox County Democratic Party believes that all citizens have a role to play in our government

We strongly encourage citizens with an interest in the wellbeing of our communities to pursue elective office at all levels of government.

Washington politics attract lots of attention, but government at the local level has the most impact on our daily lives. Whether it’s the condition of roads, the quality of schools, zoning issues, availability of parks, or the quality of public services, government at the township, city, and county level directly impacts the value of our property and the quality of our lives.

Yet, many people overlook the opportunities for public service at the local level. Some people feel they don’t have the time or expertise to run, while others feel they have little chance of winning because of their partisan affiliation or because they are not part of an in-group of community leaders.

What a Few Recent Candidates Tell Us

Adam Gilson, who ran for Mount Vernon City Council in 2011:

Running for office in Mount Vernon gave me the chance to meet voters and have real discussions about issues. I sat on stage with three other candidates at a forum as we all answered questions and engaged in conversation about things that matter to our city. Even though I didn’t win, the process of campaigning for office helped ensure the voters were heard and, most importantly, held the winning candidates accountable when they were in office. Whether we win or lose, running for office brings about an exchange of ideas and makes our government more responsive to the needs of the people.

Chuck Rogers, who ran for Knox County Commissioner in 2024:

First I think about the things I learned while running — going to meetings, standing at the First Friday booth, meeting the voters, listening to their concerns, having small meet-and-greets in neighbors’ homes and all that. But after thinking more about it, I realized that the best part of running was the new friends that I made. The amount of love and support that I received really made me feel that I found my tribe. I felt that I was not running for me but for every Democrat that feels isolated and not listened to. It really kept me going when I heard, “Oh, you will never win with a D next to your name!” Would I run again? Yes, I would — not for me, but for every person that believed in me and supported me.

Kathy Tate, who ran for State Representative in 2018 and East Knox School Board in 2023:

When I ran for office, I found that I could voice my opinions to a wider audience, and they listened. They may not have agreed with me, but we were able to discuss our differences. This was important to me, because I believe in honesty, fairness, and concern for others. Many people vote party line no matter what, which is not healthy for either our country or our local community. But now I have been encouraged by members of both parties to run again. I think this shows that I have made a difference.

Types of Elective Offices

Most local offices in Knox County are nonpartisan—that is, candidates are not nominated during a partisan primary and do not appear on the general election ballot with a party label. All township trustee and officer positions and school board positions are non-partisan.

All positions with the city of Mount Vernon (mayor, city council, auditor, treasurer, and director of law) are partisan positions, as are all countywide positions (commissioner, sheriff, engineer, treasurer, auditor, etc.). Judicial positions are nominated during the partisan primary, and party affiliation is disclosed on the general election ballot in these races.

Requirements for Campaigning

To begin a run for office, candidates must first collect signatures on official declaration of candidacy forms. These forms can be obtained at the Knox County Board of Elections and must be turned in by the filing deadline. The number of signatures required varies depending on the office. Since signatures can be rejected for a variety of reasons, candidates are urged to collect many more than the minimum number required.

Filing deadlines are as follows:

For candidates in nonpartisan races: 90 days before the general election (In 2025, this is August 25)
For candidates in partisan races: 90 days before the primary election (In 2025, this is February 5)

After candidates declare their candidacies, they must first set up a campaign committee and declare a campaign treasurer with the board of elections before they can raise or spend money. Fundraising and campaign finance filing requirements are available from the board of elections and from the Ohio Secretary of State.

For local partisan races, if no more than the minimum number of candidates a party may nominate in that race files to run in the primary, no primary election is held for that race. Instead, the candidate who files is automatically considered the party’s nominee.

If more candidates than the party may nominate file to run in the primary, the winner of the primary election is considered the party’s nominee.

If you are interested in running for any office in Knox County, please contact Knox County Dems Chair Kathy Tate.