Hordes of students and Athens residents filed into Uptown bars tonight, eagerly awaiting local and statewide election results.
About 9:15 p.m., Democrat Michele Papai officially won Athens City Council's 3rd Ward seat, defeating independent R.J. Sumney.
Sumney is the business manager at The Post.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I can’t wait to get started,” Papai said, minutes after her win. “R.J. was a great opponent.”
Papai advocates the improvement of sustainability, infrastructure and participation with Uptown businesses in economic-revitalization efforts.
“I want the council to work as a team,” she said. “There are several unknowns new to the council, so it should be interesting to hear (their) new ideas.”
One other “unknown” face new to council is Democrat Steve Patterson, who ran unopposed for one of the three at large seats.
“I’m really happy for Michele, and I can’t wait to work with her,” Patterson said. “I am really excited to work toward more leads, improvements in infrastructure, and the relationship between Ohio University (students) and Athens residents.”
As a resident of Athens since 1993, Papai has become a founding member of the Athens Near Northside Neighborhood Association as well as a member of Clear Litter Everywhere in Athens Now.
She also has served as the Athens 3rd Ward 6th Precinct Democratic Committee representative as well as on the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals.
az346610@ohiou.edu
