More About Athens' New Mayor

Paul Wiehl posted this message on his web site following his victory:
"Thank you, Athens citizens, for your vote of confidence for me and the future of our city. I look forward to working for and with you to craft the prosperous, livable city we can all enjoy and thrive in."

Articles from local media following the city elections:

• With 60 percent, Wiehl takes the win: The Post
• Under new management: The Athens Messenger
• Wiehl defuses Baum threat: The Athens News

As for the other mayoral candidates,

Ed Baum posted this message on his web site:

"Thank you, to those who voted for me, supported me, and encouraged me in the campaign for mayor, I say thank you very much. In the final analysis, I did not have enough votes to win; but the city was the winner because the campaign clarified some issues and brought out others. Again, thank you...and maybe I'll see you in town."

Sergey Kahn has not updated his web site since the election results.

And The Winner Is...Paul Wiehl

EDUCATION: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• B.S., Chemistry, Marietta College, 1979

OCCUPATION: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Lab research technician OU-COM-Biomedical Sciences

BACKGROUND ON PAUL: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Athens City Council Member, First Ward (2004-Present)
• Chair, Athens City Council Environment Committee (2006-Present)
• Member, Athens City Council Transportation Committee (2004-Present)
• Chair, Athens City Council Transportation Committee (2004-2005)
• Chair, Athens City Council City Services Committee (2004-2005)
• Secretary, Athens Westside Community Association (2004-Present)
• Chair, Athens Zoning Board of Appeals (1997-2002)
• Member, Athens Zoning Board of Appeals (1996-2002)
• Co-Chair, Athens Westside Community Association (1999-2004)
• Member, Athens 2020 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee (2001-2005)

ISSUES:

• Budget & Economy: Believes economic development requires a quality environment(AthensCountyVotes.org); Believes in Smart Growth through careful planning; Will require that developers follow city regulations to protect the city's interest and preserve Athens locally owned businesses, small town atmosphere, and scenic beauty; Will fill the city planner position to update Athens' antiquated zoning code (Wiehl's Website)

• Crime/Drugs: No information.

• Education: Expects appropriate communication when university actions will affect the city (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Environment: Believes using Cool Cities, Athens' Comprehensive Plan, and smart growth principles will provide incentives to reuse existing buildings by altering, as necessary, bulk controls, density, and parking requirements and by instituting a point system to reward smart development (AthensCountyVotes.org); Will ensure enforcement of the wellhead protection ordinance to protect Athens drinking water; Will clarify and enforce hilltop protection and trash and litter ordinances; Will institute sidewalk and bike lane development programs (Wiehl's Website)

• Jobs: Thinks the beautiful views and green spaces in Athens are its competitive advantage when it comes to attracting high-quality and well-paying jobs (Wiehl's Website)

• Principles & Values: Will maintain open communication, investigate and solve problems, and hold his administration accountable to citizens (Wiehl's Website)

• Welfare & Poverty: No information.

Athens Mayoral Debate

The Athens Mayoral Debate was held Tuesday, October 30th at the Athens Public Library.

Click here to see this slideshow in a new window.

Sergey Kahn

EDUCATION: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Currently enrolled at Ohio University, going for a BFA in Photography

OCCUPATION: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Student

BACKGROUND ON SERGEY: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Canvassed for Working America- A workers' lobby
• Fund raised for Ohio Citizen Action- An environmental lobby
• Petition for the minimum wage hike voted in Ohio's last election

ISSUES:

• BUDGET & ECONOMY: Believes city needs to look at long term implications of development projects (AthensNews.com); Would like to start local grants for local projects that help the local culture of Athens (Kahn's Website)
  

• CRIME/DRUGS: No information.

• EDUCATION: Athens must be prepared to stand up to the university and remind it of its responsibilities to the city- something the city should do soon as OU prepares to raise enrollment and build more residencies in Athens (LWV Voter's Guide)
  

• ENVIRONMENT: Kahn's love for the outdoors, makes the environment one of his key concerns; Believes resolving the parking problem in Athens by giving residents parking passes will cease blowing smoke into the air needlessly; Believes the city should pay for residents' trash service for a year for those who volunteer to leave a trash can outside their house at all times for the use of the public because by making trash cans more accessible, the city will be cleaner (Kahn's Website); Believes we are at the brink of a global climate crisis, so Athens needs to start looking at our land use much differently (LWV Voter's Guide)
  

• JOBS: Wants to bring jobs to Athens that won't compromise it in future generations (Kahn's Website)
  

• PRINCIPLES AND VALUES: No information.
  

• WELFARE & POVERTY: No information.
  

Edward Baum

EDUCATION: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Ph.D., UCLA, Political Science

OCCUPATION: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Retired professor of public administration and political science at Ohio University still teaching part time.

BACKGROUND ON ED: (AthensCountyVotes.org)

• Eight years on Athens City Council.
• Have studied and taught about local government for 40 years.
• Have held administrative positions: deputy administrator of a developmental program in Nigeria for four years; director of the Center for International Studies at Ohio University for six years.
• Past President of Civitan International, an association of over 1,000 local community service clubs.
• Policy analyst at the Department of Defense for six months in 1993.
• Have taught workshops on strategic planning, problem solving, communication, conflict management, and change.
• Chaired the Athens Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee for two years and was a member for an additional two years.
• Member of the Athens County Regional Planning Commission for six years.
• Currently co-chair of the housing task force for the County Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee.
• Trained mediator and currently board member and treasurer of the Athens Area Mediation Service.
• Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
• Director, Southeast Ohio Chair Volleyball Tournament.
• Immediate past co-chair of the Near Eastside Neighborhood Association.
  

ISSUES:

• Budget & Economy: Supporter of Smart Growth (Baum's Website); Believes in "balanced" development and believes addressing the city's code enforcement and zoning are focuses for improving development in Athens; Does NOT think city should be involved in helping local businesses obtain grants and believes the function should be conducted by the Economic Development Council and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce; Would like to see more volunteer assistance in the city (The Athens Messenger)

• Crime/Drugs: No information.

• Education: Improve communication between OU and the city by holding more frequent meetings and discussions to inform one another of actions that will affect the other (AthensCountyVotes.org); Will push for the renovation on existing buildings on OU's campus to ease the demand for growth, instead of building new buildings and expanding in to green space; Wants better, clearer channels of communication between the city and the university (The Post)

• Environment: Advocate of recycling and other environmentally friendly practices; Wants to create park spaces for all to enjoy (The Post)

• Jobs: No information.

• Principles & Values: No information.

• Welfare & Poverty: No information.