We are five days away from election day. The season of heated debates, campaign stops and endless political advertising will soon be over.
Many will excitedly cast their first vote for a presidential candidate, while others will continue the tradition carried out every November since the name Roosevelt appeared on the ballot.
Regardless, below the boxes for commander-in-chief lie the names of candidates that could have as much an effect — if not more — on you here in Athens County, home of Ohio University. In these two pages, we will examine the candidates you will see on the ballot if you vote locally.
Read carefully, ask questions and consider your options. Then, exercise your hard-won right and duty. Vote.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER
CHRIS CHMIEL - D
Background:
— Established the Paw Paw festival in 1999
— Member, Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau
— Vender, Athens Farmers Market
Priorities:
— Regulate and monitor injection wells in the county
— Would work with other local officials to prioritize projects
— Analyze and make possible changes to government safety regulations
— Improve Athens County Sewage Systems and encourage local officials, such as Athens City Council members, to increase the life of local sewerage.
“I am not comfortable with the lack of transparency of the contents of the fracking fluids and have concerns about wastewater being trucked in from other states to be injected into wells in Athens County.”
RANDY MACE - R
Background:
— Built the county’s emergency management and 9-1-1 system
— Communications security staff member, 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
— Volunteer firefighter
— Sergeant, Military Reserve, Logan, Ohio unit
— Member, National Rifle Association
Priorities:
— Place a traffic light at a Route 33 intersection
— Increasing the number of patrols in the county
— Implement government regulations for fracking
“We have plans in place for regular vehicle replacement and equipment upgrades. We need to have the same thing for sheriff’s cruisers. If and when it was financially possible, I would increase the number of patrols in the county. We also need to be aware of threats to our environment.”
CHARLIE ADKINS - D
Background:
Not available. Adkins was not available for comment.
Priorities:
— Would work to increase job opportunities for students by bringing back camps and programs that would offer part-time jobs.
— Improve public transportation
— Increase broadband availably within the county
— Increase resources to support the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste district for job growth.
“We should focus on businesses that don’t usually come to Athens. It’s not the commissioner’s job to just sit in an office. They should be out there trying to get businesses to come to Athens.” —previous Post article
LARRY PAYNE* - R
Background
— Four years as Athens county commissioner
— Vice President, Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District
— President, Solid Waste District Recycling Board
— Vice President, Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail
— Chair, ATCO
— Former President, Athens County Farmers Market
Priorities
— Prioritize budget cuts, but focus on retaining the services of necessary government offices
— Would ensure state lawmakers are regulating Athens County injection wells for fracking.
“I feel like I have good relations working with all the other office holders. You can’t just come in hoping you can run everything. You have to spend time to work along with other people, residents and employees.”
STATE REPRESENTATIVE 94TH DISTRICT
DEBBIE PHILLIPS* - D
Background:
— Member, Ohio House Democratic Caucus Leadership Team
— Former 4th Ward Councilwoman, Athens City Council
Priorities:
— Encourage focus on education and clean energy issues
— Continue to deal with state and local financial issues, balancing the budget
“I think that because I have experience on the legislative and local level, I have the opportunity to be more effective in our area, and I think that I have worked really hard to be accessible, in touch with people in the district.”
CHARLES RICHTER -R
Background:
— Account Manager, Westin Hotels
— Former Kenda U.S.A. accounting manager, North American sales manager and purchasing manager.
Priorities:
— Working with townships, counties and public schools to help with funding shortfalls
— Help business with insurance companies and energy
— Promote high-income fuel cells as an alternative
“I just want to listen to your district and represent it well. I do have more than just, ‘I want to make things better.’ I have plans and I have ideas. I’m not going to say something I’m not going to do.”
COUNTY TREASURER
BILL BIAS - D
Background:
— Former Athens City Treasurer
— Served on Athens City Council for 18 years
— Former chair of Athens City Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee
— Former Regional Rehabilitation Director for United Health Inc.
— Former undergraduate and graduate accounting professor
Priorities:
— Regulate county funds
— Be unbiased and not focus on party affiliation
— Ensure levy collections are aware of how much money to collect
“I would say it’s not one big checkbook, but probably about 50 big checkbooks. As I’ve said, I’m certainly a bit of a political animal. I’m running for county treasurer and there is no real Democratic or Republican way to collect money or count money, making sure the job is done properly.”
ABE ALASSAF - L
Background:
— Property owner and renter
Priorities:
— ‘Honestly’ manage funds and taxes
— Invest county money in safe investment opportunities
“The experience that I bring to the county is that I’m honest, and I think that’s the biggest thing. I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m not as qualified as my opponent, but I don’t think any of that matters if you can’t be trusted.”
STATE REP. 15th DISTRICT
PAT LANG - D
Background:
— Law Director, City of Athens
— Former Athens City Councilman (first Ohio University undergraduate to serve on council)
Priorities:
— Fight for college affordability
— Encourage job creation and decrease how many American jobs are sent overseas
“I understand the values of the area and am going to be 100 percent committed. I came from a poor Appalachian community. I wouldn’t have been able to go to OU had it not been for work-study grants.”
STEVE STIVERS -R
Background:
— Colonel, Ohio Army National Guard (27 years of service)
— Served in battle as a Battalion Commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom
“There are different needs in Southern Ohio. I’ve traveled and talked to people in all the (district’s) counties.” — Post endorsement interview
OHIO SENATE
LOU GENTILE* - D
Background:
— Served as an aide to former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland
— Asst. Director, Governor’s Office of Appalachia
Priorities:
— Work with farmers to create sustainable ways to produce energy so that farming is cheaper and more eco-friendly
— Maintain high, clean drinking water standards in the state
— Maintain low tuition for public universities
— Work with oil and gas companies to advertise the skilled construction and trades employed in the process
“The state of Ohio understands how affordable higher education needs to be for all young people in the state. Ohio University is an important and critical asset for the entire Appalachian region, a wonderful resource for economic growth and research — and it’s one the entire region can benefit from.”
SHANE THOMPSON - R
Background:
Not available. Thompson was not available for comment.
Priorities:
(according to Thompson’s website):
— Strengthening the middle class
— Job growth
U.S. SENATE
SHERROD BROWN* - D
Background:
— Former Congressman from Ohio’s 13th District, U.S. House of Representatives
— Former Ohio Secretary of State
— Former Representative for Ohio’s 61st District, Ohio House of Representatives
Priorities:
— Increase access to affordable healthcare, including birth contraception for women
— Bring manufacturing jobs back to Ohio and preserve the ones that are here
— Keep a strong middle class
“There are still too many OU grads still looking for work. We understand that.” —Post endorsement interview
JOSH MANDEL -R
Background:
— Current Ohio State Treasurer
— Former 17th District Representative, Ohio House of Representatives
Priorities
(according to Mandel’s website):
— Stop ‘reckless’ borrowing by Washington D.C. politicians
— Remove barriers to federal regulations on drilling and refining for energy exploration
Mandel was not available for comment
OHIO SUPREME COURT
YVETTE MCGEE BROWN* - D
Background:
— Former Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court Judge, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
— Led creation of Family Drug Court and the SMART Program
— Assisted in the creation of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
— Small business owner in the private sector
“When I go around the state and I talk to the people, they are pretty astonished that there is only one Democrat in the Supreme Court. It’s important to note that I am the first African American woman in the court and the first person of color of the court in 37 years. I think it’s important to have that kind of balance.”
SHARON KENNEDY - R
Background:
— Butler County Domestic Relations Court Judge: 1999–Present
— Private practice attorney-at-law: 1991–1998
— Warrant & Compliance Officer at Butler County Juvenile Court: 1996–1997
— Officer for Hamilton Police Department: 1985–1989
Kennedy was not available for comment
ISSUES
ISSUE 1
Issue 1 is part of the Constitution of the State of Ohio that allows voters to call for a convention of the state legislature every 20 years to make changes to the Ohio Constitution, according to documents from the Ohio Secretary of State.
ISSUE 2
Issue 2 — or the Ohio Redistricting Amendment — would create a 12-person commission to draw legislative and congressional maps, a process that already happens every 10 years. But the power to redistrict currently lies with elected officials such as the governor and legislative leaders.
Passing Issue 2 would remove elected officials from the redistricting process and hand the responsibility over to the new commission, solely of citizens, who would be appointed next year to draw new maps for the 2014 election.
ISSUE 20
Issue 20, or the Athens City School District Levy Renewal with an Increase, if passed, will renew $3,200,000 and will also provide an increase of $500,000 for the Athens City School District. District officials say the levy would be used to pay for utility bills, staff, building budgets, insurance, bus fuel and other operating expenses, but have not yet analyzed what sort of cuts would be made if the levy does not pass.
“I’m always hopeful about these types of things,” said Carl Martin, superintendent of Athens City School District. “I certainly hope this one will be approved as well.”
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