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Longtime Tipp council member defeated; school board to have two new faces
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
TIPP CITY — Voters returned one incumbent, but not a second, in the race for three seats on the seven-member Tipp City Council.
Donald Ochs, the longest-serving member of the council, was defeated Tuesday, while another incumbent, George Lovett, was returned by voters. Elected to the council for the first time were Tipp City native John Kessler and Dolores "Dee" Gillis, a longtime downtown business owner.
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Unofficial totals from the Miami County Board of Elections showed Kessler with 933 votes; Lovett, 919; Gillis, 878; Joe Gibson, 789; Ochs, 680; and Mike McFarland, 569.
Rick Mains, an accountant, did not seek re-election.
The challengers claimed the council needed to improve its communication, and listen more to what the public wants before making decisions.
The council next year will be asking voters to approve a permanent income tax increase following the defeat in May of a similar 0.25 percent measure.
It also will be selecting a new city manager. David Collinsworth, who has been city manager for more than a decade, is leaving for Westerville.
Lovett, a lawyer, said he was pleased to be re-elected, but disappointed Ochs will not be returning.
"I congratulate everybody who ran," he said. "I will miss Don's unique way of analyzing issues, his calmness."
Ochs, a management and financial consultant, has been on the council since 1999.
Gillis, who recently sold her hair salon business and retired, said she is looking forward to her first public office.
"I will just dive into it and get it done," she said.
Four people ran for three seats on the Tipp City Board of Education. Incumbents Pat Wampler and Tom Cochran chose not to seek new terms.
John Muldowney, the only incumbent, was re-elected. Chosen as new board members were lawyer Tom Merritt and Kate Kyle Johnsen, who works part time for the Child Care Choices organization. Unofficial results showed Muldowney with 1,991 votes; Merritt, 1,937; Johnsen, 2,095; and Carli Amlin Dean, a Realtor, with 1,362.
Contact this reporter at (937) 335-4357 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.
