Tuesday night, when Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason’s smartphone lit up in his palm, a collective breath was held by Athens City Council at-large candidates at Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery.
“It’s over. They’re counted!” Eliason said, quickly passing his phone to Councilman Steve Patterson, D-at large.
Illuminated by the phone’s glow in the dim bar, Patterson’s face bore a smile as he saw he’d been largely re-elected along with his fellow democrats.
The incumbents, Patterson and Councilwoman Chris Knisely, along with interim Councilwoman Jennifer Cochran, will hold on to their at-large seats on council next year.
Each garnered about 30 percent of the vote, largely defeating Troy Gregorino, the independent challenger, who won about 10 percent of the vote with 328 ballots cast for him.
“This was never intended as a campaign that would live or die based on the election,” Gregorino, booking manager at Donkey Coffee & Espresso, said in a text message to The Post. “It feels more like a beginning than an end.”
For Cochran, a local massage therapist, the victory locked her into a position she was appointed to by the Democratic Party to fill a vacancy this summer. She has been serving since Elahu Gosney stepped down from the position.
There were a total 3,221 votes counted, according to final unofficial results from Athens County Board of Elections. Patterson, with 988 votes, clinched the most. Knisely and Cochran had 980 and 925, respectively.
Cochran said being elected would allow her to expand on her ideas for the city.
“It’s definitely been different coming into this election,” Cochran said. “With the primaries, I went door to door. This time I didn’t do the same things, but I’m always surprised how word gets out to people.”
Although Patterson said he was obviously thrilled with the results of the election, Mayor Paul Wiehl noted an unusually low turnout of about 17 percent.
Still, Patterson was on cloud nine, and said that even in a seemingly cut-and-dry election cycle, he tried to stay humble.
“I never take it lightly,” Patterson said. “Someone who feels confident? That’s risky. It’s all good nerves.”
Patterson, associate professor of psychology at Ohio University, said he still has lofty goals ahead of him.
“I love what I do,” he said. “I have a hell of a lot more that I need to accomplish. Two years goes by fast.”
Knisely said after Election Day, council members are allowed to rest easy for only a minute because large issues are right around the corner for debate.
“In the next few years we’ll be working on the wastewater treatment plant,” Knisely said. “Every time it’s a challenge. It’s interesting to get out in the community and see what they want now.”
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