Three Ohio University students registered to run for office as Athens City Council members, possibly inciting increased student interest in a topic normally disregarded.
The student-candidates include Democrat Amy Flowers and Republicans Jeff Yount and Matt Bernosky, the Athens County Board of Elections said yesterday. All are running for council at-large, for which three seats are available. Incumbent Jim Sands and current 2nd-ward representative Carol Patterson, both Democrats, are also running for
this position.
Balancing council and student responsibilities is feasible, but student interest in the position usually lacks, Athens County Republican Party Chairman Pete Couladis said. College life inherently causes this, as most students live in Athens for only a short time and city matters are not on their radar screen while here, he added.
Residing for a year and being a registered voter in the city are the main requirements to run for council, which makes most OU upperclassmen eligible. A petition of 50 registered Athens voters' signatures also must be presented. Only those who voted, in the past two primaries, for the same party as the candidate they are supporting can sign.
Though yesterday was the deadline for registering with a political party affiliation, those who meet the requirements can register as an independent until May 2 -the day before the primary election.
Flowers is a 19-year-old senior political science major from McConnelsville in nearby Morgan County. She said she was motivated to run by the importance of local elections and her interest in Athens.
As the director of the Athens County Democratic Party and president of OU College Democrats, Flowers has experience in the rigors of campaigning. She was also deeply involved in the campaign of OU junior Sarah Sexton, councilwoman D-at-large.
Flowers' long-term commitment to community service makes her an appealing candidate, said Susan Gwinn, Athens County Democratic Party chairwoman.
You have to have some kind of connection to the community so that community members feel comfortable with the student they're electing
Gwinn said.
Yount is a 20-year-old junior political science major from Dayton.
Bringing the student perspective to council is important regardless of the student's relationship with the city, he said.
Just because I haven't lived here my entire life doesn't mean I don't understand the problems Athens is facing he said.
One of the city's biggest challenges is the animosity between students and long-term residents, Yount said; the two need to accept each other more to improve
the situation.
Bernosky, a 21-year-old senior aviation major, is an Athens native. He said he believes council is out of touch with Athens residents and addresses issues of no interest
to them.
The city paving alleys and streets where students live instead of those where permanent residents live is one issue Bernosky said
he questions.
He will stay at OU for a fifth year and is considering attending graduate school here.
Athens resident Muriel Grim has been attending council meetings for about three years and said council benefits from having at least one student representing OU's perspective. She is active in several community organizations, including ReUse Industries and the Athens County League of Women Voters.
What I would prefer to see is a student who wants to integrate both student interests and city interests and can consider both equally Grim said.
As the third OU student to serve on council, Sexton, a political science major, met the challenges of campaigning. She has been on council since January 2004, and said she will not be running for re-election because she will be graduating from OU mid-term.
The hardest part campaigning was convincing voters she could handle the responsibility at such a young age, Sexton said
She said her experience as a council member has been positive.
Generally people treat me as an equal
and listen to my opinion
and weigh it as equally as any other council member
Sexton said.
Councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd ward, has served since December 1984 and said she thinks students elected to council have a vested interest in the city and is not opposed to students' often-limited time on council.
Rex Scott, the first OU student ever on council, served from January 1988 to August 1991. He grew up in Athens and graduated from OU in 1988 with dual degrees in political science and education.
Scott, now a high school assistant principal in Arizona, said OU students on council should extend their knowledge and interest beyond the campus, which is especially important in winning the election.
Pat Lang, who was unable to be reached for comment, was elected in 1997 as the second OU student on council.
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