Newcomers make impact in races for council seats
By LARRY SHIELDS, Staff WriterSALEM -Control of city council will be in Republican hands after incumbent Democrats Clyde Brown and newcomer Randy Colian lost to Republicans Joe Radin and Brian Whitehill who won two of the three at-large contested on Tuesday.
Incumbent Democrat K. Bret Apple retained his seat after being the top vote-getter in the at-large election with 1,838 votes (24.31 percent) while Whitehill polled 1,646 votes (21.77 percent), Radin collected 1,408 votes (18.62 percent), Colian received 1,403 (18.55 percent) and Brown received 1,267 votes (16.75 percent).
The results, from the Columbiana County Board Election, are complete but unofficial.
Republican challenger Mickey Weaver also defeated incumbent Democrat Council President Tod Mumpire by collecting 1,578 votes (56.32 percent) to Mumpire's 1,261 (43.68 percent). Mumpire was completing his first term.
Election board member Patty Colian said there were 36 provisional ballots that cannot be counted until 10 days after the election.
With Radin and Colian separated by five votes an automatic recount is implemented when the difference is one-half of one percent.
Patty Colian said provisional ballots are name and address changes.
Treasurer Robert A. Tullis, an Independent, was unopposed for his third term as treasurer, and received 1,978 complimentary votes.
Weaver said she was pleased and "very surprised" at the outcome and offered kind comments to her opponent.
"Tod did a good job," she said.
Weaver said she didn't expect the income tax to pass and noted that Salem has a "tough road ahead without much money" but she looked forward to the challenge.
She said being her first election it was a lot of work.
"It was difficult because it wasn't a major election ... an off year. I was surprised at the number who got out and voted."
Weaver said her job will be to let everyone be heard on issues and not politics.
Brown said he wasn't surprised at the loss but couldn't pinpoint a reason.
"I don't know what happened," he said, explaining he knocked on most of the doors in town.
"I worked hard," he said, "I expected to do better. than fifth, but that's what people want."
Asked what he thought was a reason for his loss, Brown said, "I don't know."
He said he expected to take it easy.
"Being an at-large councilman is s full-time job (for him)," he said.
Council members, including council president, are paid $4,553 per year . The new terms begin on Jan. 1, 2010.
Facebook
MySpace
Digg
Stumble
Mixx
Fark
del.icio.us
LiveSpaces
|
WatchCat
|
|
|---|---|
|
11-05-09 10:39 AM
|
Everyone! Let's just give our elected officials a chance and see they do. There is a reason why a .50% tax was in place, to get extra money to keep the city moving in the right direction. Now that it has been voted down these officials can only do what resources they have. Please keep that in mind!!!
|
|
SalemRulz
|
|
|
11-05-09 6:38 AM
|
Concerned: Regarding your wonderful statement about the Mayor loosing the Super Nats...seems as if you can't say anything else regarding the "Super Nats" being lost because they are not. I do agree that we need to get more industrial spots filled up. Since you are all about smaller government, maybe we can start a blog to get some ideas brewing for new industries and not have to have our elected officials worry about them. Oh by the way, regarding your statement about Mayor Wolford saying he hasn't done anything beneficial. Please share with me your e-mail or home address if you like so I am able to send you article after article about the things he has already been able to accomplish. Do I need to do that?
|
|
wayoutthere
|
|
|
11-05-09 12:20 AM
|
A new day has dawned on Salem, a new Council is coming in...let's see what they are going to do for the city, which is slowly dying due to the lack of jobs, resources and revenues. Phase I and II of the Industrial Park needs to be filled before entering into any type of contractual agreement with Swindell. Why continue to move on this project when spaces and buildings remain open?! Is anybody out there listening..does anyone see? And yes, I've heard talk of a fire district..downsizing of the police force. Change is a coming ..are the residents ready to face these changes-their votes have spoken. Be prepared for many wolves in sheep clothing! There are many side bar deals being made by special interest groups, not for the good of the whole but for a few. Good luck!
|
|
WatchCat
|
|
|
11-04-09 8:51 PM
|
Clyde Brown is no longer and that's good for Salem. His politics and past track record speaks for itself. The people of Salem figured that out when he was not elected Mayor and now not re-elected for his Council job. Remember, everthing happens for a reason! (Meow, Meow)
|
|
concerned
|
|
|
11-04-09 8:48 PM
|
Salemrulz, What has Mayor Wolford done that has been so benficial? This race track deal is a joke. He is trying to tell people Swindell is going to pay the city 100,000 a year in rent. Swindell can't make it go now, how is he going to pay the city 100,000? He has been trying to dump it for years but no takers. The million dollar price tag on that white elephant is only the begining. It will end up costing the city several millions of dollars. Anyone that don't think it won't, is blind. We already have several available industial spots that need filled up.Let's fill them up and then talk about making more available.When money is tight is not the time to go out and spend more money that you don't have. Sometimes you have to work with what you have. Government officials need to learn that.
|
|
SalemRulz
|
|
|
11-04-09 7:50 PM
|
Concerned: You are right. It wasn't all of Clyde's fault. However, he was a BIG part of the mess and yes I do blame him for several things but not everything. If you have forgotten, he votes have counted and killed numerous projects for the good of Salem. Do I need to bring his votes and issues to your attention? By the way, for you and the rest out there that believe that the Mayor "lost" the Super Nats....he didn't. Salem is still having their own Super Nats. No, it's not the exact same title as before or on the same weekend. I don't understand why you and others are so hung up about this topic. There are so many of you out there that feel the mayor screwed up on this. In my opinion, he made it better for Salem! Mayor Wolford has been doing a good job these past few years in trying to rebuild this city.
|
|
concerned
|
|
|
11-04-09 6:21 PM
|
I really don't understand why those on this board are so upset with Clyde Brown. Maybe it is just because you don't like him personally. You speak of having harmony on council. Is that what you really want? A council that just rubber stamps everything and never questions anything !! God help us. That is what has gotten this country in the mess we are in now. Politicians rubbing each others backs. Clyde was one vote. There are 6 others on that council that ultimately made the decisions. I'm surprised someone didn't blame Clyde for losing the Super Nats. O, I forgot the mayor did that one on his own. Those of you that think city council's problem was Brown are going to be in for a surprise. The city's problems will still be there and we will still see the mindless leadership that we have seen for several years now. The city's problem was not Clyde Brown. The city's problem is the same as most government we have too many chiefs on the payroll. Smaller government is the only answer.
|
|
SalemRulz
|
|
|
11-04-09 5:47 PM
|
WatchCat: It's nice to see other residents of Salem understand where I'm coming from.
|
|
SalemRulz
|
|
|
11-04-09 5:43 PM
|
WatchDog: I decided to play your little game and see how you like it for a change. You love to focus on the negatives all the time. I love your comment "certainly not in defense of Block50's comment. Our entire governing body of leadership hasn't been doing a good job...not just Brown alone" HMM...Sure sounds like defense to me? Anyone else want to chime in on this one? By the way, no it's not the entire leadership team. There have been some memebers on our team in which positive things have been coming out including the Mayor.
|
|
WatchCat
|
|
|
11-04-09 5:11 PM
|
Hey WatchDog, why don't you calm down. You need to take it easy and why do you have a beef with SalemRulz. I think you are barking up the wrong tree, DOG. This this WatchCat, "Meow, Meow - There Goes Clyde Brown!"
|
|
WatchDog
|
|
|
11-04-09 5:00 PM
|
SalemRulz? That part of my statement was the only thing you focused on in my comment? You have got to be kidding me? READ the entire comment. In your case READ IT TWICE. You are mad at me for agreeing with you and taking it one step further. OH BOY that is rich! And this people is why we don't have progress in the City of Salem! You take half that energy you put into beating up the other commenters and put it into the issues the city is facing we probably could get somewhere.
|
|
SalemRulz
|
|
|
11-04-09 4:05 PM
|
WatchDog: I would watch your comments about being little kids at school poking fun at Brown. If my memory serves me correctly, that's all you do on these blogs!!! Do I really need to recall your memory from time after time of you doing this? If you are going to make a statement, make sure you can walk the walk and not just talk the talk! We had a chance to have a way from making cuts, however it looks like it's coming now!
|
|
WatchDog
|
|
|
11-04-09 4:00 PM
|
Oh and SalemRulz, certainly not in defense of Block50's comment. Our entire governing body of leadership hasn't been doing a good job...not just Brown alone. All of them. If they had been we would have never been facing that income tax hike in the first place. Lose the party and popularity contest fun and get smart. We, as a whole, republican or democrats we are still facing the same problems of this city. Brown didn't kill this stagnant city, we the taxpayers did. We let them get away with for far to long!
|
|
WatchDog
|
|
|
11-04-09 3:35 PM
|
When all you little school kids playing here at recess get done poking fun at Brown like five year olds you better get over it quick and growup because we as taxpayers now have our jobs cut out for us even more so. We just defeated an income tax increase. Just because you voted no it still means a majority of the problem issues are still facing us here in Salem. We have now got be alert and on high defensive to pound hard on city council and our Mayor and especially the newcomers that only appear at this point to have been voted in as the lesser of the evils going out to undo the damage to this 25 million dollar budget. This is not a time for poking fun this is now the time we better all get serious. We now need to get them to understand the term priority spending and trim the excess fat from this budget and start implementing plans that are going to generate revenues for this city.
|
|
SalemRulz
|
|
|
11-04-09 2:02 PM
|
In reference to block50 comments at 6:11AM: I would like to ask you what you have been smoking recently? You are completely insane for thinking that Mr. Brown did a good deed for the City of Salem. Where have you been? Name me one thing in which Mr. Brown was in support with the Mayor? Let me help you with that answer....NOTHING! Why? He has always been trying to play hard ball with the Mayor the past 2 years since he lost the Mayor election. If you are going to be in an elected official position, you have to be willing to work together across the table and not be so concerned about his own agenda. Clearly, this should tell everyone here in Salem that the residents of Salem are done with Mr. Brown. He now has lost his last 2 elections...to me that's sending me a clear signal and message that we don't want him in ANY political seat in Salem. If there is 1 good thing that came out of this election....BROWN IS OUT!!!
|
|
dubfun
|
|
|
11-04-09 12:32 PM
|
All I can say to the new council members is, GOOD LUCK!! You're gonna need it. Start your concession speeches today for the next election if no improvements are made during your term. The fickle Salem voters want changes yesterday!!
|
|
dalesr
|
|
|
11-04-09 10:25 AM
|
bye bye Clyde, its about time. We have had enough of his shenanighans. He has ruined so many projects for this city it is unreal. but we need to be where of the wolf in sheeps clothing and that is White hill, he is an ally of Nestic. and they are all for consolidation of services. Whitehaill had made the remark that there will be a fire district so hold on to your hats Salem you may lose your fire department with these two being allys and you will see more cuts to your police department also. As far as Brown having husts to stand up to the Mayor, tht was not guts it was his agenda and his grandstanding against what was right he deserves to be gone, he is a black mark on the Salem Democrat party, he supported two republicans against his own democrats, because of his agenda.
|
|
ts1227
|
|
|
11-04-09 7:35 AM
|
Brown played "politics" worse than the party players. He was an at large guy who had his little niche of friends and just tried to push their interests through... which was great for them but what about the other 11,000 people he represented?
|
|
block50
|
|
|
11-04-09 6:11 AM
|
Mr. Brown paid the price for having the guts to stand up to the machines of both political parties and the local press.. He spoke truth to power and suffers today for it. I thank him for his selfless service and hope that someone on the new Council will step up and stand up the this Mayor and his flunkies the way Mr. Brown did.
|
|
SalemRulz
|
|
|
11-04-09 5:32 AM
|
I've been waiting for this day for a long time. NO MORE CLYDE BROWN!!! I have been sick and tired of Brown sitting in that seat over these past years doing nothing but complaining. It's about time that Salem finally understood who the real Mr. Brown was all about. Clearly, it shows that Salem doesn't want Brown back in any political seat for Salem with a defeating 5th place!!! Looks like Mr. Brown is going to have to find another "FULL TIME" job.
|