ASHLAND – Candidates from across Ashland County presented their views Monday night during a forum sponsored by the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Township trustee and township fiscal officer candidates, village council candidates and school board candidates from across the county joined Ashland’s mayoral candidates and city council candidates at the Pump House for Monday’s event. In addition, representatives from two area school districts and the city of Ashland explained tax issues that will be on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Ashland Mayoral Candidates
Council members Matt Miller and Sandra Tunnell are facing off to replace Duane Fishpaw as Ashland’s mayor.
Miller said he’s excited to see a lot of people in their 30s who grew up in Ashland but left for college and to start their lives, and are now returning to the city.
“They’re starting to think, ‘You know, life goes fast and it’s important to be close to grandma and grandpa and family,” Miller said. “The thing that makes me excited is they’ve seen what we can be, and now that they’re back in town, when they drive downtown, they see those buildings and they think, ‘You know what, wouldn’t it be neat if,’ or ‘Wouldn’t it be great if someone opened up a this. A bookstore. Or a restaurant. Or another boutique downtown.’”
Miller emphasized that while the work being done to revitalize downtown Ashland is important, downtown is just a small portion of Ashland’s economic development. However, the narcotics issue can be an economic development stumbling block.
“The drug issue is more than just a social issue that hurts our family and friends, that destroys lives. It’s also an economic development issue,” Miller said. “Because the truth is, companies that can’t find enough employees to fill their vacant positions most often will cite as the primary reason the fact that people can’t pass a drug test.”
Tunnell focused on her experience bringing new businesses to downtown Ashland as the director of Main Street Ashland. Downtown Ashland has experienced a 22 percent growth in businesses, which has helped bring jobs and tax dollars into Ashland.
Tunnell, who has served on council for eight years, also has private sector experience and experience running a small business.
“I understand how to bring money into a community and I understand how to run a business,” Tunnell said. “These are the things you need when you have someone who is leading your community. Someone who has the proven track record who can show you that she has broad experience. Who can show you that she has brought things to this community.”
She referred to herself as a “doer,” not a “talker.”
“When people need things done in this community, I get a phone call,” Tunnell said. “I have shown over and over again that I’m willing to literally roll up my sleeves, walk out in heels, or maybe not, and make something happen in our community. And I’d like to continue doing that.”
Ashland City Council
2nd Ward
Incumbent Robert Valentine faces political newcomer Paul Stevenson in Ashland’s 2nd Ward.
Stevenson said he became interested in running for council when the city tried to pass the street levy the first time. He started attending council meetings and saw that he could contribute to making Ashland better.
One of his major platforms is ensuring that tax dollars are used responsibly.
“It’s our money, not the city’s money,” Stevenson said. “I want to make sure we’re spending our money wisely.”
Stevenson also wants to bridge the communication gap between the public and city officials.
“There’s a big gulf between Ashland city government and the people it represents. I’d like to work very hard to bridge that gulf and bring together those two parties because it’s not am ‘us and them.’ It’s a ‘we.’”
Valentine has been on council for 12 years and wants to continue working to improve Ashland.
“It’s all about working together,” Valentine said. “There’s a lot of things personally that you want to do but that council is there for a reason. It’s all about the team concept.”
Valentine said he has lived in the ward for 40 years and called Ashland a great place to live and raise a family.
“It’s just a great place to live, a great place to work and I want to be part of the future,” Valentine said.
The councilman said he thinks economic development is very important for the whole city, not just the east side of town on U.S. 250.
3rd Ward
Council President Ruth Detrow faces Dennis Miller for the 3rd Ward Council seat.
Detrow said Ashland has a great heritage, a heritage that should be embraced, not discarded.
“It’s something to hang on to. Not something to tear off and try to do a new Ashland. It just isn’t what we need,” Detrow said. “Our city is something to be proud of already. I am proud of it and I do enjoy everything about our city. The parks and all kinds of recreation and cultural things.”
Miller has more than four decades of banking experience. He has worked with a variety of local organizations including the Chamber, YMCA, Mohican Area Growth Fund and Brethren Care.
“I am committed to focusing on the critical issues of finance, administration and resource utilization in our city, both for the short- and the long-run,” Miller said. “And I will ask what impact my individual council vote will have on my ward, our city and the future of this great town.”
4th Ward
With current 4th Ward council representative Sandra Tunnell running for mayor, a newcomer will take the seat in 2018. Businessman Al Farnam faces Sandra Bally, a retired engineer on Nov. 7.
“We must look to the future for positive change starting from the bottom up,” Bally said. “Community involvement, in hand with time and dedication, will ensure Ashland’s transition into the future.”
Bally said she wants to work with Economic Development to help attract more, higher-paying jobs to Ashland.
“We’ve got a lot to offer to companies here in Ashland,” Bally said, pointing to Ashland’s schools, safety services and parks. “We should have no problem attracting good-paying, successful companies.”
Farnam, who owns his own heating and cooling business, said the key to economic development is having an educated workforce. He said you see “Help ‘Wanted” signs all over town.
“In my business, I have a real hard time finding people who are skilled in the trades,” Farnam said. “If we don’t have the people, we’re not going to get the businesses.”
Farnam said he wants to clean up the abandoned buildings and help beautify the community.
Village Council candidates
Cheryl Eggerton-Bowen from Perrysville and Doug Yoho from Savannah are candidates for their respective village’s councils. Eggerton-Bowen has worked with the Perrysville Economic Development team and wants to bring that experience to helping the village continue to grow.
Yoho is running for his second term on council and said he is proud of his work getting a block grant for sidewalks in the village and passing an income tax to keep the village providing services.
Township Trustee and Fiscal Officer candidates
Glen Goff Sr. has 40 years of experience in construction and is running for township trustee in Sullivan Township.
James Lessig is running for township trustee in Vermillion Township. Lessig is concerned about zoning in the township and wants to clarify zoning to make the township simpler to understand.
Richard Mumaw is a candidate for township trustee in Mifflin Township. Mumaw has vast experience working at F.E. Myers, Ohio Edison, Dale-Roy and the City of Mansfield. He said he believes in doing a lot with a little.
Barb Siler is running for fiscal officer in Jackson Township.
School Board candidates
David Hunter has served 10 years on the Loudonville-Perrysville School Board and is looking to win his third term on the board. Hunter believes the schools have done a good job of keeping expenses down, while still offering a high-quality education for the L-P students.
Issues
Ashland City Larry Paxton explained the city’s natural gas aggregation issue to attendees. The program is voluntary but all city residents will be enrolled unless they already have a contract with a gas supplier. They will have the option to opt-out of the program if they choose.
Paxton said the city will negotiate with natural gas suppliers to get city residents the lowest possible natural gas prices by buying a large volume from the supplier.
Representatives from the West Holmes-Ashland County Career Center and Dale-Roy School explained their school’s replacement levies are not new taxes, but just continuations of existing taxes.
