The executive editors support Jennifer Cochran, Pat McGee and Aaron Dauterman in their candidacies for city council.
City Council: Jennifer Cochran (D)
We, like many people, care about the environment. However, not many speak out about it and actually follow through on the promises they make when it comes to Southeast Ohio’s resources.
That’s why Jennifer Cochran, a current member of Athens City Council, has one of our three endorsements for an at-large position on city council.
Cochran, who attended Ohio University for graduate school, has served a little more than one full term as a councilwoman and in her time, has worked with students on the Athens Beautification Day. During her endorsement interview, Cochran told The Post the city would not be what it is without student, and she appreciates the contributions students make to Athens.
She also made it clear during the interview that, if elected, she wanted to focus on issues similar to the ones she has already worked on. Some of those issues include extending the bike path and continuing to work on solving local solid waste problems.
We think Cochran is a deserving candidate because of the aid she has already provided to sustainability issues in Athens and we hope she continues to push for environmental reform.
City Council: Pat McGee (IND)
A fresh voice and perspective is something we think the Athens City Council could benefit from.
Pat McGee, an Independent candidate, can bring that new outlook to the entirely Democratic group, which is why we are endorsing him for city council. Not only does McGee, an OU alumnus, bring a non-partisan viewpoint, but he also brings many years of legal experience to the position.
McGee was previously a Democrat, but has since shifted to a third-party standpoint. During his endorsement interview with The Post, McGee said he did not believe partisan labeling matters in a small town setting. Instead, he wants to bring a practical approach to local government.
If elected, McGee said he would continue to work for the Center for Student Legal Services, where he is the managing attorney. His work at the center is what we noticed the most, as he has shown that he is fair and has consistently looked out for students and their interests.
McGee said during his interview that if he was elected he would like to change some law enforcement practices in Athens. That would include officers wearing recording devices to ensure they are behaving professionally, but also to help determine whether people they are interacting with are lying about said interactions.
With heavy media attention on police in this country, we believe McGee can put his knowledge of the law to good use and bring about much-needed change in Athens.
City Council: Aaron Dauterman (R)
There is no one more steeped in what students want and need out of their local government than students currently attending Ohio University. For that reason, we endorse OU senior Aaron Dauterman for city council.
Dauterman is studying communication studies and public advocacy at OU and, if elected, will continue to live in Athens.
During his endorsement interview with The Post, Dauterman said he is running for city council because he did not agree with some rulings members made. He started attending meetings and believes the problem lies within communication between council members.
He said he will push for continual maintenance of local infrastructure and that he hopes to look into how the city manages its budget. Dauterman said he wants to provide balance to the council, which is Democrat-heavy, since he does not think there is much debate when it comes to discussions held at the meetings.
Monthly meetings between the council and university officials is also something Dauterman wants to implement. This would allow for the constant communication between the city and the university that he believes should continuously happen.
Dauterman can truly relate to the juggling act many students have to perform in college, and we think the bridge between students and the city would be best bridged by him on council.
Endorsements represent the majority opinion of The Post's executive editors.
