ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Table gambling, money for Ohio's younger war veterans and protecting the state's food supply all will be at issue when Ohio voters go to the polls Tuesday.

School board and municipal races also will be on the ballot, and so will an abundance of contested township races.

Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

While voters across the state will see three state issues before them, it is the township trustee races that are the most numerous and have the most candidates in this general election.

In Belmont County, there are 13 contested township trustee races; in Harrison County, 13; in Jefferson County, 14; and in Monroe County, 14.

Elected township trustee positions usually pay about $4,500 a year, and often have benefits, said Ed Good, a Mead Township Trustee since 1996.

Good also serves as chairman of the Belmont County Democratic Party. His seat is not on the ballot Tuesday, therefore he was able to comment as to why so many candidates want the job this year.

"At one time, the primary function of township trustees were the roads," he said. "Through other legislative actions, the role has expanded quite a bit."

Township trustees now have to deal with such matters as nuisance properties, abandoned vehicles and safety in their jurisdictions, Good continued. There are also issues with cemeteries, park districts and day-to-day lobbying for their townships.

Many townships do provide health insurance benefits for trustees, but Good said many trustees have insurance with their regular jobs and don't often take it.

He noted that while he hasn't personally taken benefits, Ohio law allows trustees to be reimbursed for the cost of their copay up to $200 if they utilize their full-time employer's insurance plan. Good said he doesn't exercise this option.

"You can put in a lot of time as a township trustee," he continued. "For the stipend - it's probably not worth it. It comes out to about minimum wage."

Good's long-time colleague as Mead Township Trustee was Matt Coffland who served as president of the Belmont County Townships Association before moving on to his current position of county commissioner.

Coffland doesn't believe the pay or the benefits of the job are what is calling many to township services.

"I hope they're running to make their townships better," he said. "I know I always ran to try and make a difference."

Among states issue on Tuesday's ballot, there are three proposed constitutional amendments:

• Issue 1 would authorize the state to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

• Issue 2 -would create the Ohio livestock care standards board to establish and implement standards of care for livestock and poultry.

• Issue 3 would allow for one casino each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, and distribute to all Ohio counties a tax on the casinos.

Contested school board races will take place in Barnesville, Bellaire, Bridgeport, Martins Ferry, St. Clairsville and Shadyside in Belmont County, and there also will be a contest in the Harrison Hills School District in Harrison County.

Jefferson County will see board of education races in Toronto, Buckeye Local, Indian Creek, Southern Local and Edison Local school districts.

Local municipal races will take place in the following communities:

• Belmont County Martins Ferry, Bridgeport, Flushing, Holloway, Powhattan Point, Shadyside and Yorkville.

• Harrison County Cadiz, Hopedale, New Athens and Scio.

• Jefferson County Steubenville, Toronto, Adena, Bergholz, Mt. Pleasant, Stratton, Wintersville and Yorkville.

• Monroe County Clarington, Lewisville, Stafford and Woodsfield.