By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In the only contested races on Bowling Green ballots today, Democratic voters chose to elect political newcomer Neocles Leontis and return Mark Hollenbaugh to City Council.
Leontis, a chemistry professor at BGSU, beat out incumbent Bruce Jeffers by a vote of 569 to 462.
The two Democrats had several similarities – but differed greatly on the issue of rental housing in the community. Leontis campaigned on his belief that the safety of rental units in Bowling Green is lacking and must change.
“This is a victory for the town,” Leontis said after the results were posted tonight. “We’ve seen we can have an issues-based election. The electorate is mature enough to respond to that. People listened.”
Leontis has pushed for mandatory fire inspections and adequate insulation of rental units. He has suggested that City Council look at programs that work in other communities.
“There’s no systematic way to guarantee safe housing,” currently in Bowling Green – especially in older houses divided into apartments, he said.
“People responded to that. Now we have a mandate,” Leontis said of the rental inspections.
Leontis also campaigned for bike paths in the city. “People would like to see action,” on that issue, he said.
And he plans to promote city composting of food waste, reduction in landfill waste, and reduction in the city’s environmental footprint.
After the results came in, Jeffers’ offered his congratulations to Leontis.
“He ran a really good campaign and worked really hard,” Jeffers said. “I’m sure he’ll do a really good job of bringing issues to council.”
Jeffers, who has served on council for eight years, said he will have to reassess his role in the community, to see if there are ways he can stay involved.
One of Jeffers’ signature issues has been the “Welcome BG Initiative,” which works to make the city a place that welcomes immigrants to the community.
“There are issues I care about, and think are important,” he said.
Leontis will not face a Republican opponent in the general election in November, since the Republican who filed for the seat, Adam Wilson, submitted an insufficient number of registered voter signatures on his petition. However, Joe DeMare, a member of the Green Party, has filed as an Independent to appear on the general election ballot.
Hollenbaugh will return as First Ward council representative after beating contenders Connor Goodpaster and Madison Stump.
Hollenbaugh, who was appointed by City Council after First Ward council member Daniel Gordon resigned last year, said it felt good to be elected by his constituents.
“It feels a lot better,” he said.
As one of just two City Council members living on the East Side of Bowling Green, Hollenbaugh said he plans to focus on the needs of those residents.
“I’m going to focus almost exclusively on issues that impact the East Side of town,” he said. “Anything I can do that will make life easier for the people of the East Side of town, that will be my priority.”
Those issues are likely to include housing and development along East Wooster Street, he said.
Hollenbaugh offered his compliments to his opponents – Goodpaster and Stump.
“We all agreed early on we were going to take the high road and not say anything bad about each other,” he said. “We all clearly defined our priorities.”
Hollenbaugh will not face a Republican contender in November. According to Wood County Board of Elections’ Terry Burton, the Republican who filed for the First Ward seat, Micah Swanson, had his petition rejected because his registration address did not match his petition.
No Republican candidates for City Council had competition in the primary.
Following are the unofficial vote totals for all the candidates on the Bowling Green ballots:
Mayor:
- Michael Aspacher, Democrat – 881 (100%)
Council at-large:
- Bruce Jeffers, Democrat – 462 (45%)
- Neocles Leontis, Democrat – 569 (55%)
First Ward:
- Connor Goodpaster, Democrat – 30 (36%)
- Mark Hollenbaugh, Democrat – 36 (43%)
- Madison Stump, Democrat – 17 (21%)
Second Ward:
- John Zanfardino, Democrat – 112 (100%)
Third Ward:
- Rachel Phipps, Democrat – 300 (100%). Phipps will face Republican Ryan Holley in the general election.
Fourth Ward:
- Sandra M. Lepper, Democrat – 392 (100%). Lepper will face Republican Bill Herald in the general election.
Kroger Local Liquor Option Sunday Sales of Beer, Wine and Mixed Beverages from 10 a.m. to midnight – Yes: 30; No: 8.
