Waynesville income tax fails; new face on council

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 6:39 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

An outspoken critic of village leaders was one of four candidates elected Tuesday, Nov. 3 to Waynesville Village Council, while the community’s income tax levy failed.

Incumbent Sandy Stemple led all candidates for the four open slots on Waynesville Village Council with 26.4 percent or 542 votes; newcomer Gary Pelkey, who once sued the village to receive a video of a meeting and has been critical of the village, came in second with 19.5 percent or 400 votes. Incumbents Jim Martin and Joette Hightower retained their seats with 17.9 percent (378 votes) and 17.7 percent (367 votes) of the vote, respectively. Charles Feicht, a current council member, finished fifth with 17.7 percent or 363 votes, according to unofficial results from the Warren County Board of Elections.

A proposed 1 percent income tax levy village officials say was needed to help make up a $340,000 budget deficit was soundly defeated 68.9 to 31.1 percent, according to unofficial results.

Hightower said the council would rerun the levy at the earliest possible time.

“We’re short on manpower and that was our only answer,” Hightower said. “We will have to fight harder next time.”

City manager Bruce Snell would not give a comment on the failure and what it meant for the village.

In Wayne Twp., Pat Foley and Brad Coffman defeated four opponents to win two open seats on the Board of Trustees with 22.9 and 21.5 percent of the vote, respectively. They will replace Ron Kronenberger II and James Coffman.

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