A resounding chorus of “Four more years!” erupted as Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl entered a packed Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery after a landslide victory against his Republican challenger, Randy Morris.
Wiehl, a Democrat, received 2,385 votes, or 71.05 percent, and Morris received 972, or 28.95 percent, according to the Athens County Board of Elections’ unofficial results.
“I’m happy with the results,” Wiehl said. “I have another four years to keep doing what I need to do for Athens.”
Both candidates said Issue 2, which addresses collective-bargaining rights for public workers, had a negative effect on Morris’ race.
“Union workers seem to feel that, if you are anything less than 100 percent supportive of unions, you are 100 percent against them,” Morris said.
Morris said that, although it did not relate to his candidacy, local Democrats tried to make Issue 2 the focus of this year’s race, pushing voters away from him.
Ohio University College Democrats President Nick Tuell said Issue 2 did not determine the race.
“The issues brought voters to the polls, but it’s not the only thing,” Tuell said. “The mayor deserves a second term. He deserves credit for the job he did.”
Wiehl and Morris both agreed that the best elections occur when candidates have an opponent.
Having an opponent forces a candidate to take a stance on tough policy questions, Wiehl said, adding that this year’s race helped him clarify his stance on several issues.
Morris congratulated Wiehl on his victory and said he will not run for elected office in Athens again.
“It’s pretty clear who the voters wanted to be mayor,” Morris said. “There was a resounding vote against me today. I got the message. Message received.”
rc348710@ohiou.edu
