Hatcher withdraws from Van Wert juvenile and probate judge race as commissioner files for May primary

One of the Republican candidates who filed petitions to run for Van Wert County Juvenile and Probate Court Judge has withdrawn from the race, while another elected official has entered the contest ahead of the May 5 primary election.

Van Wert City Law Director John Hatcher has withdrawn his petition for the Republican nomination. In an email statement to the Van Wert Independent, Hatcher said he decided it was not the right time to run and that he plans to continue serving as Van Wert’s law director while pursuing other opportunities in the near term. He also said he still views becoming a judge as a long term goal, but is not ready to leave private practice at this time.

Meanwhile, Van Wert County Commissioner Todd D. Wolfrum filed petitions to run for the same seat, and those petitions have been ruled valid. Wolfrum is currently serving as commission chairman.

As the race now stands, Wolfrum and Van Wert County Prosecutor Eva Yarger will face each other in the May 5 Republican primary, with the winner advancing to the November general election ballot. No Democrat has filed for the seat. The filing deadline is 4 p.m. this Wednesday.

The judge’s seat is currently vacant following the retirement of Van Wert Juvenile and Probate Court Judge Kevin Taylor on December 31, 2025. Governor Mike DeWine is expected to appoint someone to fill the remainder of the term, which runs through February 8, 2027.