(Photo by Michelle Dillon) Washington County Commissioner Kevin Ritter, right, speaks to a crowd gathered at the Washington County Republican Headquarters Tuesday night after learning he won the county in his race for a state senate seat in the Ohio 94th district. The New York Times declared Ritter the winner of the race.

The unofficial election results were released Tuesday night and Washington County Commissioner Kevin Ritter will be the next state representative for the Ohio House of Representatives’ 94th District and voters chose to deny some levies.

As of Thursday, according to the Ohio Secretary of State unofficial election results and with 100% of precincts reporting, Ritter won the race with 69.27% or 36,847 votes, compared to Democrat Wenda Sheard’s 30.71% or 16,334 votes and write-in candidate and independent Andrea Neutzling’s .02% or 10 votes.

Washington County Republican Party Chair Joe Derkin announced to a room full of Republican supporters at county party headquarters Tuesday night that The New York Times had declared Ritter the winner of his race.

“I never thought I would be happy to hear an announcement from The New York Times,” Ritter said, eliciting chuckles from attendees.

Ritter thanked everyone in the room for their support.

(Photo by Michelle Dillon) Washington County Commissioner Kevin Ritter, right, sits at Washington County Republican Headquarters Tuesday night in Marietta waiting for election results while talking to a fellow Republican.

Also on Tuesday, two levies failed while the rest passed.

The additional tax levy for the village of Matamoras for current operating expenses — which the county auditor estimated would collect $17,000 annually at a rate of not more than 2 mills for each $1 of taxable value – failed. The vote was 184 (59.25%) against the levy and 126 (40.65%) for the levy.

If the levy had passed it would have amounted to $70 for each $10,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value for five years and it would have commenced in 2024 and would have been first due in calendar year 2025.

The additional tax levy for maintaining and operating cemeteries in Wesley Township – which the county auditor estimated would collect $27,000 annually at a rate of not more than 1 mill for each $1 of taxable value — failed.

The vote was 246 (60.89%) against the levy and 158 (39.11%) for the levy.

If the levy had passed it would have amounted to $35 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value for four years and it would have commenced in 2024 and would have first been due in calendar year 2025.

Other levies voted for and their results:

¯ The Fearing Township replacement levy for fire and emergency services passed with 369 votes (76.88%) for the levy and 111 votes (23.12%) against.

¯ The additional tax levy for Grandview Township for fire and EMS passed with 345 votes (52.19%) for and 316 (47.81%) against.

¯ The additional tax levy for maintaining and operating cemeteries in Salem Township passed with 297 votes (52.11%) for and 273 (47.89%) against.

¯ The local liquor option in Matamoras and Grandview Township for Par Mar Store 4 at 1300 State Route 7, Matamoras, to sell beer, wine and mixed beverages passed with 170 votes (54.31%) in support and 143 (45.69%) against. The separate question of whether the business can sell alcohol on Sundays had a tie vote, with 156 votes for and 156 against, which will be addressed during the canvass process.