When he first took out petitions to challenge Mayor Paul Wiehl, Athens Republican Randy Morris wouldn't say for sure whether he'd be on the ballot.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to run
but you never know Morris said in an interview last month.
But the speculation is over.
Both Morris and Wiehl turned in their signatures to the Athens County Board of Elections and paid the $45 filing fee yesterday, one day before the deadline, according to the board.
Eight other local election candidates had turned in their signatures and paperwork to the Board of Elections as of 5 p.m. yesterday, but none of the four Ohio University students who have declared candidacy in various races had secured a spot on the ballot, according to the board.
Democrat James Drake, Jr., an OU senior studying political science, announced last month that he would challenge Wiehl in the May primary.
Three other students - Democrats Nate Hall and Ibriham Alassaf and Republican Aaron Grassel - said they would compete with five other candidates for Athens City Council's three at-large seats.
The candidates who have already secured their ballot spots include City Auditor Kathy Hecht, who is running for re-election, and Councilman Jim Sands, who is running for council president.
The newest candidate for council, Andrea DeMott, has also turned in her signatures. The 23-year Athens resident is challenging incumbent Kent Butler for his 1st Ward council seat.
I feel like I have different priorities than our current representative DeMott said.
She noted that many residents of Athens' 1st Ward - which includes all of OU's West Green, some residence halls on East Green, and portions of High and College streets - were upset they were displaced by the construction of new housing developments.
I think the needs of the people who were already living here barely even registered with the city administration
she said.
Candidates for city and county positions must submit their signatures and pay the filing fee by 4 p.m. today.
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Wesley Lowery
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