Frontz to join Truex, Carver & Black on Bellville Village Council

BELLVILLE — Bellville residents re-elected three incumbents to village council Tuesday.

Tim Truex, Deb Carver and Edd Black all retained their seats in the election for new, four-year terms to begin in January.

The trio will be joined by Amy Frontz, a newcomer who will succeed councilman J.J. Burkhart. Burkhart did not run to retain his seat.

“I am honored that the Village of Bellville residents have elected me to serve,” Frontz said.

“Thank you to all the voters who put their trust in me. I look forward to working with the Mayor and other council members. We are capable of great things when we work together and remember who we are serving.”

Voters chose their top four picks from a slate of six candidates, which also included Steve Haring and Benjamin Stewart.

Incumbent Edd Black received 417 votes, according to final, unofficial vote totals from the Richland County Board of Elections.

Preliminary totals show Carver received 407 votes. Frontz received 390. Truex received 375.

Carver said she felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride for the trust voters placed in her.

“Thank you — from the bottom of my heart — to everyone who came out to vote, to my family and friends who supported me, and to the neighbors who shared their hopes, ideas, and even their concerns throughout this campaign,” she said.

“Over the past four and a half years, we’ve accomplished so much together — whether it’s improving our streets and public spaces, supporting our local businesses, or ensuring that our village services meet the needs of every resident,” Carver added.

“These accomplishments aren’t mine alone — they belong to all of us. But there’s still work to be done.

“In this next term, I’m committed to continuing the progress we’ve made — to listen, to lead with transparency, and to make decisions that keep Bellville strong, safe, and welcoming for generations to come.”

Black and Truex could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.