The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Low turnout, excitement in local election

About one-third of city’s registered voters cast ballots at the polls Tuesday.

Board to review superintendent applicants Saturday
5:54 p.m.
Mayor against Waynesville income tax
5:00 p.m.
State jobless rate jumps to 10.5 percent
3:14 p.m.
Child injured in Ohio 741 accident
2:49 p.m.
Checkpoint tonight
2:04 p.m.
> More headlines

By Ed Richter, Staff Writer 1:34 AM Sunday, November 8, 2009

Change continues to be in the air as Middletown voters selected their ward representatives to City Council last week.

However, there was little excitement as only about one-third of the city’s registered voters turned out at the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, despite the fact there were four ward races and 10 amendments to the city’s charter.

Those running for office were active not only in various community forums, most of which were televised on TV Middletown, but also in putting up signs and campaigning door-to-door in their wards.

Knight Goodman, longtime political observer and veteran campaign manager, noted the lack of excitement in this fall’s council elections.

“There wasn’t too much talk about it (the charter amendment to reduce the size of council and eliminate the ward representation system), let alone the (council) elections until the last two or three days before the election,” Goodman said. Goodman also noted that obtaining campaign funding was more difficult for candidates this election cycle.

“I don’t think the candidates brought out excitement this time,” he said. “I think TV had something to do with it. One minute is short to get an idea out. If you can’t get people excited, you won’t get much done.”

Daniel Picard, 4th Ward councilman-elect, said he believes the televised forums helped to sway people’s votes.

When the new council comes together in January, it’s an opportunity for new ideas to move the city forward, Picard said.

Picard’s opponent, Paul Nagy, also had a lot of good things to say about him during the campaign. Nagy, who said he will not make another run for a council seat, said he ran because he wanted to get the issues on the table, but did not expect to win.

“I wish all of the candidates the best,” Nagy said.

Second Ward Councilman-elect A.J. Smith, 20, and 3rd Ward Councilman-elect Joshua Laubach, 27, are among the youngest to serve on City Council since the 1990s. They also conducted strong door-to-door campaigns that were key to their election.

Goodman said he was surprised with the results of the 2nd and 3rd ward races, as he thought they would be much closer. However, Goodman also noted that while Smith “is awfully young,” he did a good job with his campaign.

Goodman previously managed the campaign for Lloyd Miller, who before Election Day was the youngest person elected to council at age 25. He said it took some time for Miller to get up to speed and anticipates Smith will need some time as well.

Re-elected 1st Ward Councilman Jim Armbruster’s opponent, Gary Barge, said he believed low voter turnout was a key reason he was unsuccessful.

“I knew I was fighting an uphill battle, but he didn’t win by a landslide,” Barge said.

“I’m not disappointed. I knew when the numbers came in. It is what it is,” said Barge, who is considering running for mayor in 2011.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

i'll tell you who should really be ashamed of themselves: those two girls with the cup. holy cripes, have you seen them eatin' that **** like its ice cream?! that makes me almost spew. at least they weren't fighting over the corn in it...

jeffster
12:13 PM, 11/8/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Anyone who did not vote should be ashamed of their selves. People in nation around the world risk death for trying to vote. In America too many are too lazy or don't give a crap about voting. And they are the ones who complain the most and loudest when thing do not go their way. And that's the way it is.

jm
8:35 AM, 11/8/2009

REPORT ABUSE

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.