Troy Gregorino, the booking manager of a local coffee shop, hopes to rule a new stage in town next year.
Gregorino, an Independent, is running for an at-large seat on Athens City Council, and filed the required petition paperwork with the Athens County Board of Elections on Friday. He’ll challenge three Democrats — Jennifer Cochran, a local massage therapist, and incumbents Chris Knisely and Steve Patterson — in the November election.
“It was a last minute push,” Gregorino, 34, said. “There are a lot of uncontested races in the primary. The at-large seats were shaping up to be a done-deal after the primary, and I just thought that was a pretty boring way to end an election.”
He needed 25 signatures of registered voters to sign up for the race, and Gregorino said he got more than double that amount.
Because council is a part-time job, Gregorino might hang on to his job as booking manager at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 ½ W. Washington St.
There are three up-for-grabs seats on Athens City Council, and even if the two incumbents retain their seats, Athens will get one new member.
Council member Elahu Gosney, D-at large, decided not to run for re-election.
The four council members who represent the city’s four wards ran uncontested Tuesday and no Independents have challenged them so far. No Republicans have entered the race, and the deadline for that party has passed.
The addition of an Independent to council, currently made up of all Democrats, could shake up the politics in Athens and bring a certain freshness to the city’s legislative body, Gregorino said.
“I’m no politician, but I do know there’s not a more diligent voice for Athens than me,” he said. “If there’s any room left in politics for imagination, it’s here in Athens.”
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