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MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Judge Teresa L. Ballinger had no trouble winning her reelection campaign for Marion Municipal Court. She won her fourth term in office by securing 74.76% of the votes cast. The final unofficial count showed Ballinger with 12,941 votes to 4,368 for challenger Jennifer Ryan, who is the chief probation officer for the Marion County Common Pleas Court.
“It feels amazing,” Ballinger said in regard to her large margin of victory. “I’ve worked really hard to be a part of the community and to improve the community. I feel like with these kinds of numbers, it gives me feedback that I’m doing the right thing. I appreciate that and I feel like I’m the community’s best choice.”
Ballinger was first appointed to the Marion Municipal Court bench in 2004 and won the 2005 general election. She won subsequent six-year terms on the court in 2011 and 2017. Ballinger ran without opposition in both 2011 and 2017 after defeating Mark D. Russell to win the 2005 general election.
Ballinger said her plan is to continue to develop new programs to help those who come through the municipal court system. Currently, she has three special docket programs in operation: drug court, mental health court, and veterans treatment court.
“I’m looking at creating an OVI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated) docket because our OVI numbers are increasing,” Ballinger said.
Ballinger noted that is thankful for the support that she received from voters in this election.
“I appreciate that the community appreciates me,” Ballinger said. “I love Marion.”
Ryan said via email she was thankful for the voters who “who believed in and voted for me.”
“Unfortunately, things did not turn out the way we hoped,” Ryan said in the email. “Despite the outcome, I am happy to have been on this journey. I learned a lot and met many great folks who truly love this community as I do and who want what’s best for it.
“Congratulations to my opponent. I wish her well. I hope that she will listen to the concerns of those who did not support her.”
Ryan said she believes “that Marion can be great when those in charge stop making decisions that are motivated by political and personal dislike or personal interest, and instead make decisions with integrity and with what’s best for the community in mind, then Marion will be great. There is much to do. Stay tuned.”