1982 Ohio State Treasurer election

1982 Ohio State Treasurer election

←  1978 November 2, 1982 1986  →

Nominee Mary Ellen Withrow Buck Rinehart Thomas V. Brown Party Democratic Republican Libertarian Popular vote 1,541,199 1,470,172 195,957 Percentage 48.05% 45.84% 6.11%

County results Withrow:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70% Rinehart:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70%

Ohio State Treasurer before election Gertrude Walton Donahey Democratic Elected Ohio State Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow Democratic

The 1982 Ohio State Treasurer election was held on November 2, 1982, to elect the Ohio State Treasurer. Democratic incumbent Ohio State Treasurer Gertrude Walton Donahey chose not to seek re-election following an embezzlement scandal. Primaries were held on June 8, 1982.

Democratic Marion County Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow narrowly won the election, defeating Republican Franklin County Treasurer Buck Rinehart and Libertarian Thomas V. Brown by two percentage points.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mary Ellen Withrow, Marion County Treasurer (1977–1983)
• James R. Williams, lawyer
• Kenneth Cox, Ohio State Senator (1977–1982)
• Michael P. Kelly
• Richard L. Wittenberg, former Ohio State House Representative (1973–1974)
• Lee C. Falke, Montgomery County Prosecutor (1965–1992)
• Timothy G. Lemire

Campaign

Mary Ellen Withrow won a crowded seven-way Democratic primary by a razor-thin margin of 0.32 percentage points over lawyer James R. Williams.

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mary Ellen Withrow	165,380	20.28%
	Democratic	James R. Williams	162,776	19.96%
	Democratic	Kenneth Cox	149,252	18.30%
	Democratic	Michael P. Kelly	127,266	15.61%
	Democratic	Richard L. Wittenberg	89,356	10.96%
	Democratic	Lee C. Falke	87,308	10.71%
	Democratic	Timothy G. Lemire	34,138	4.19%
Total votes			815,476	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Buck Rinehart, Franklin County Treasurer (1976–1984)
• Richard H. Harris
• Howard Knight, former Ohio State House Representative (1963–1972)

Campaign

Buck Rinehart easily won the Republican nomination over his two opponents, winning by over 20 percentage points.

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Buck Rinehart	307,639	52.57%
	Republican	Richard H. Harris	181,850	31.08%
	Republican	Howard Knight	95,668	16.35%
Total votes			585,157	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Mary Ellen Withrow, Marion County Treasurer (1977–1983) (Democratic)
• Buck Rinehart, Franklin County Treasurer (1976–1984) (Republican)
• Thomas V. Brown (Libertarian)

Results

1982 Ohio State Treasurer election results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mary Ellen Withrow	1,541,199	48.05%	−15.46%
	Republican	Buck Rinehart	1,470,172	45.84%	+9.35%
	Libertarian	Thomas V. Brown	195,957	6.11%	N/A
Total votes			3,207,328	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Democratic Primary: June 8, 1982 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
2. "Republican Primary: June 8, 1982 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
3. "General Election: November 2, 1982 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 8, 2025.