Just five months removed from an election season that saw the Democratic Party sweep the Athens ticket, the next has kicked off for six Democrats battling for three at-large Athens City Council seats.
All of them are running on the same party line, but they all feel their individual backgrounds will help them be effective on City Council.
“As a mother, I hone my skills in conflict resolution and project management,” said candidate Jennifer Cochran, a massage therapist at Athens Wellness Cooperative and Ping Center, during a forum at the Athens Public Library on Tuesday. “It’s important to listen to your stakeholders, respect their opinions and work towards a shared goal.”
In addition, Cochran helped establish a chapter for Habitat for Humanity at Otterbein College and spent two years in the Peace Corps in Armenia.
Candidate Ron Luce, director of the Athens County Historical Society & Museum who is also a painter and actor, has a particular vision for the city.
“I have a vision of Athens, Ohio, being the cleanest, safest, most beautiful city that you can find anywhere in this country,” Luce said. “And I can get us there with your help. That’s my hope.”
Luce is concerned with local infrastructure, safety, cleanliness and economic development.
“There are three key words: vision, passion and leadership,” Luce said. “That’s what you’re going to get from me.”
The owner of Athens Media Pros, candidate Michael McSteen, served on council from 1999 to 2001. He said he decided to give it another run for a “personal reason”: He is frustrated that problems that existed during his last term have yet to be resolved.
“My son walks to middle school from Second Street, and he goes down Lancaster Street,” McSteen said. “If you’ve ever taken a walk down Lancaster Street, you can see it’s in kind of bad shape, and it’s been that way for a long time. I’m not necessarily angry about it but frustrated that some of these things aren’t getting done.”
McSteen wants to make an impact on city government and try to help residents attain a better quality of service and life.
An incumbent in the race, Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-at large, said she believes her experience speaks for itself.
She highlighted things the council has accomplished during her time such as the creation of the city bike plan and extension of the bike path, major roadway and bridge repair.
“I decided to run for Council again because I love what I’m doing,” Knisely said. “I think I can effectively build on my experiences.”
Fellow incumbent Councilman Steve Patterson, D-at large, has been teaming up on a campaign for re-election with Knisely, sighting the experience both have working together.
“There are a lot of issues we’ve been working on involving finance and personnel,” Patterson said. “There may be things she doesn’t agree on with me and things I don’t agree on with her, yet we’re able to work through and resolve the issues. We work well together is the bottom line.”
Council members must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and need to make good use of them, Patterson said.
As the manager of Avalanche Pizza and a local DJ, Michael Bart said he wants to bring a vision he believes is common in Athens but underrepresented on Council.
“I believe that before any taxpayer money is spent, we should be asking more questions,” Bart said. “I also do not see enough public involvement, and I would like to see social media used to inform the public on what is going on, facilitate discussions and keep things as transparent as possible."
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