MANSFIELD — One has been involved in local government most of his adult life. The other is a political newcomer who believes it’s time for a new generation of leadership in Mansfield.
That’s the choice Democrats will have on May 7 when they choose between Philip Scott and Joel Vega in the race for Mansfield City Council At-Large. Both spoke Wednesday during the party’s weekly luncheon at Democratic Party headquarters, 16 S. Park St.
The winner will take on Republican David Falquette in November. The current 1st Ward councilman, Falquette is unopposed in May. The winner in the general election will take the seat now held by Democrat Don Bryant, who is running for mayor in the May primary.
Scott, 64, of 1996 Devonwood Road, has been City Council president for 12 years and is being forced from office due to term limits. Vega, 40, of 655 Gilbert Ave., is the artistic director of Mid-Ohio Opera in Mansfield in his first bid for elected office.
Scott, who served 17 years as the elected Richland County Clerk of Courts, said Wednesday he wants to continue to serve Mansfield residents. Scott said he has lived in Mansfield most of his life, save for eight years in Shelby, where he graduated from high school in 1973.
Scott said he was elected council president in 2007. He said the city went into fiscal emergency in 2008 and didn’t emerge until 2014.
“If we don’t get a different mayor, in a few years possibly, unfortunately, we might be looking at a similar situation,” Scott said. “Let’s hope we don’t come to that. We’re just in a bad situation right now. The fiscal outlook is not good in the City of Mansfield if we continue at the pace we’re in.”
Scott said the heavy industrial days of Mansfield are in the past, but said current Republican Mayor Tim Theaker could be doing more.
“It would be nice if we had a mayor’s office that would be out maybe searching for those maybe larger firms that would be willing to come to Mansfield. In the meantime, we need to focus on those smaller businesses that maybe start out with five or 10 employees and over time grow,” Scott said.
Scott said the proposed Touby Run Flood Mitigation Hazard Project, including a dry dam, will be costly, but necessary.
“It’s a subject we’re going to have to face, if we ever want to develop that land, commonly called around here The Flats, it’s a flood zone. Nobody is going to build or redevelop there as long as it’s in a flood zone,” Scott said.
Scott said he is in favor of ideas developed in the Mansfield Rising plan.
“Mansfield Rising is a great thing. I am all for it. I want the younger generation to come and live downtown. We have a lot of potential apartments here in the downtown that would be viable for people to live in,” he said.
Scott said he also believes a planned city-wide water meter replacement program, though he worries about the increased water/sewer bills some residents may see.
“It’s a big bullet Mansfield is going to have to bite off. (But) when you are losing that much revenue in water, we have got to do something. Over time, those meters wear out and you’re not recording (correct) water usage,” he said.
“I think I have the experience. I have been around county and city government most all my life. I would like to continue to serve the citizens of Mansfield,” Scott said.
Vega, who grew up in Mansfield and graduated from Madison High School in 1997, left the state to pursue his music education (bachelor’s and master’s degrees in musical performance) and a career as a professional opera singer and music teacher. Vega said he returned to Mansfield in 2012.
“I am running the Mid-Ohio Opera, a professional, music non-profit,” he said, “meaning we hire professionals hope to break even at the end of the year.”
Vega said he has also worked as an adjunct instructor at The Ohio State University-Mansfield and other area colleges.
He said he has “noticed a generational divide in our politics … and even among well-meaning, wonderful, long-serving politicians and elected officials in our city and county.”
“The way I think of the economy and the way I think of city life, especially in a small city like Mansfield (after living elsewhere), there is a big divide in what I think city life could be and should be and what we should expect from a city in terms of public parks and public amenities,” Vega said.
“It is time to pass the torch. We want more urban life, more urban living, not less,” he said.
Vega said he is well versed in what he called the “gig economy.”
“The job force is changing. The job needs are changing. We can’t be chasing GM anymore. (Those jobs) aren’t coming back. I know what it’s like to work three part-time jobs, and raise a family and pay taxes. Instead of disengaging, I decided to engage,” he said. “I see great growth. I see huge opportunity. If you want a fan of Mansfield, that’s me.”
Vega said he loves the ideas found in Mansfield Rising, but said council members needed to been pushing to be more involved in the effort two years ago.
“I bring new energy, new ideas and new perspectives to give to City Council. I thank everyone who has served in the past. But please consider passing the torch and allowing someone who will be a little more aggressive, a little more active and who knows the new economy,” Vega said.
