GALLIA COUNTY — Gallia County voters will be making their voices heard in today’s primary, as Republican candidates are selected to move forward in races at the county and state levels and petitions and levies are resolved.

A state-level race of local interest today is that of the Republican candidate for State Representative of the recently redrawn 93rd District, which includes Gallia, Jackson and Vinton counties, and the majority of Lawrence County. Three candidates are vying for the open Republican seat — Gallia County native Ryan Smith, Jackson County native Jim Riepenhoff and Lawrence County representative Bill Dingus. The successful candidate will face Democrat Luke Scott in November.

On the county level, three Republican candidates will face off for the January 3 term seat of the Gallia County Commission, including Lynn Angell, David K. Smith and Roger A. Watson. The winner of this race will challenge Democrat Lois M. Snyder in the November election. Brent A. Saunders, Republican candidate for the January 2 term seat of the Gallia County Commission, will also face off against Democratic candidate Howard ‘Joe’ Foster in November.

The Gallia County Treasurer race will also hit the primary ballot today. Republican candidates Steve McGhee and Tom Beaver will vie for the seat that will challenge Democrat Pam Riley on the November ticket.

Although there are few local options on the Gallia County ballot, two of the three petitions filed are related to the possible opening of a new restaurant in Gallipolis — Buffalo Wild Wings. According to business affiliate Randy Breech, both the D-5 and D-6 liquor permit licenses must be passed in order to secure the new restaurant. These licenses allow for alcohol sales seven days per week. If both options pass, Breech said Buffalo Wild Wings will be located on the site of the old Ponderosa.

The third local petition is for Sunday beer and wine sales at Walmart. These three local options will be specific to Gallipolis Precinct #5.

The only tax levy up for the Gallia County vote is that of the Lawrence County Joint Vocational School District’s Collins Career Center. The levy calls for an additional tax for the Collins Career Center, which serves Gallia and Lawrence counties, for the purpose of improvements, renovations and additions to school facilities at a rate not exceeding one-half mill for each one dollar of valuation, for a period of five years, commencing in 2012.

The levy requires a majority vote for passage.

The following candidates are running unopposed in the November 2012 election:

County Engineer Brett Boothe (R), Coroner Daniel Whiteley (R), Sheriff Joseph Browning (D), Prosecutor Jeff Adkins (D) and Recorder J. Roger Walker (R).

Although neither are contested within their respective parties for today’s primary, Republican candidate Noreen M. Saunders will face Democratic candidate Brenda J. Mershon in the November race for Gallia County Clerk of Courts.