Martin, an assistant attorney general for environmental enforcement for the state, is seeking his sixth consecutive four-year term on the commission. Chilton, a freelance paralegal who retired from the Clark County Public Library, is vying for her third consecutive term.
Rue is the co-owner of Littleton and Rue Funeral Home, and Estrop is the former superintendent for Springfield City School District. Both are first-time political candidates.
Without seven or more candidates, there will not be a primary for the city commission this spring, Director Jason Baker said.
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Three other candidates — former city manager James Caplinger, financial planner Brett Bumgarner and resident Richard Smith — all pulled petitions but decided not to run.
Current Springfield City Commissioner Karen Duncan isn’t seeking re-election and plans to end her 12-year political career. She was the leading vote-getter when the three seats were last on the ballot in 2013. All three incumbent commissioners — Duncan, Chilton and Martin — were re-elected that year, beating out challenger Dan Harkins, a local attorney.
In May, voters will decide multiple city and school funding issues, including the city of Springfield’s second attempt at a tax increase. Without a primary, the city will be on the hook for the entire cost of the election in Springfield, which will likely be about $40,000, he said.
The city wants voters to approve increasing taxes from 2 percent to 2.4 percent for 5.5 years. If approved, the tax would generate an additional $6.7 million annually. For a worker making $30,000 a year, the tax would cost an additional $9.75 per month.
A similar issue failed by 227 votes in November.
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Other issues to be decided by voters in May include:
• Greenon Local School District residents will decide on a 6.98-mill bond to build on K-12 school building. If approved, taxpayers who own a $100,000 house will spend an additional $244 annually, or about $20 per month, for 37 years to pay for the new school.
• Clark-Shawnee Local Schools again will ask voters to approve a 5.3-mill bond that would bring a new elementary school to the district and renovate the high school. Voters rejected the same plan in November. The 37-year tax would cost an owner with a $100,000 home about $183 a year, or about $15 a month.
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• A 5-mill, five-year levy to hire more police officers will be decided by Enon voters. A similar proposal was also rejected in November. It will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $175 annually, or about $14 per month.
A May election will not be held in Champaign County, officials said.
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