Paul Wiehl led a Democratic sweep of yesterday's city elections, dominating the mayoral race with 1,619 votes ' about 60 percent of total votes cast for that race.
This makes it a total Democratic city
and as everybody knows that doesn't mean it's a monolithic mindset Wiehl said in an acceptance speech to supporters just after 9 p.m., when the Democrats announced their victories based on preliminary vote counts from 19 of the city's 23 precincts.
In his campaign, Wiehl emphasized smart growth ' utilizing existing housing and buildings at the city's center without overextending its resources ' and stricter enforcement of city code.
The 54-year-old future mayor said he also wants to improve city officials' communication with Ohio University administrators and with students and is considering attending meetings of the student senates.
I don't think of myself as anti-student
but
you know
I'll have to work on it
do some outreach
said Wiehl, who works as a scientific lab technician at OU. Part of the thing with students is that
you know
you really have to talk to them on so many different levels and just communicate with them. Sometimes it's hard ' as an old fart
twice their age
