ATHENS, Ohio — Democratic leaders across Southern Ohio have nominated Athens County Municipal Court Judge Todd L. Grace to fill a vacancy on the Ohio 4th District Court of Appeals, setting up a contested race for the seat left open by the recent death of Judge Peter B. Abele.
The nomination came at a special meeting of Democratic leaders from the 14 counties that make up the 4th District. The Ross County Board of Elections certified Grace’s candidacy, and his name will appear on the ballot as early voting gets underway.
The meeting was chaired by Ross County Democratic Party Chair Sarah Senff, who pointed to Grace’s 24 years of judicial experience as his chief qualification. Grace is in his eleventh year on the Athens County Municipal Court bench and previously spent 13 years as a magistrate in Athens County Juvenile Court. He also chairs the Ohio Judicial College’s board of trustees and holds a law degree from the University of Michigan.
Grace faces Republican Jayme Fountain in the November 3 general election. Senff argued Fountain’s lack of experience on the bench makes her a weaker candidate for an appellate seat, while Grace said he would bring day-one readiness to the higher court.
