Local & state
CARLISLE — For more than two years, this northwest Warren County village has been rocked with controversy and this year’s municipal election for mayor and two at-large council seats is the next chapter.
Incumbent at-large Councilman Randy Winkler is challenging incumbent Mayor Tim Humphries to lead the council and the village for the next four years as mayor.
Humphries was accused, but never charged, in November 2009 of downloading sexually explicit images onto his city-owned laptop and home computers. The allegations created a division in the community that led to an attempted recall of Humphries in early 2010.
A $6.6 million federal lawsuit is pending in which Humphries is suing the city, several current, past and present city officials and police officers as a result of that police investigation.
Humphries, 43, was appointed and served two years on council before being elected as mayor in 2007.
He is the owner of Humphries Cycle Shop.
He said he’s seeking re-election “to continue fixing the broken ways of the good ol’ boy system. I see daylight, we’re not too far from better days. It would be a shame to get so close to the summit with finishing the climb.”
Humphries identified the top three issues facing the village are having a sustainable local court system or dissolving it; replacing the law director; and a competent village manager.
Winkler, 58, is married with three grown sons and three grandchildren.
Winkler is employed by Vectern Energy Delivery of Ohio and has been a council member for the past eight and a half years.
“I believe I can make a difference,” he said. “I want to continue to make Carlisle a great place to live and raise our families. As mayor, I would like input from citizens on how they view the village and what their vision is for the future.”
As for the top issues facing the village, Winkler said attracting new business and retaining current businesses; how proposed centralized taxation by the state will have a negative impact on the state; and addressing several issues and putting the new Comprehensive Plan into use.
If Winkler is defeated, he still has two years on his current council term.
Five candidates are seeking the two at-large council seats up in November. Incumbent council members James Lickliter and Jennifer Long are seeking re-election.
The three other candidates include Terry Johnson Jr., Bob Ragar and Cheryl Sweezy. Both Sweezy and Johnson sought appointment to replace former Councilman Chad Johnson.
• Terry Johnson, 33, is married and has three children. He has served two years as co-chairman of the village park board and has been a volunteer firefighter. He is employed as a crane operator at AK Steel. Johnson said,
“Carlisle needs a positive change, in my opinion, council should have a uniform belief and that is what is in the best interest of the community and I feel the current council does not have that.” As for the top issues, Johnson identified those as village management and budget reform. “With funds always decreasing, we need to work together with other organizations in consolidating costs,” he said.
• Lickliter and his wife are the parents of five children. He is Navy veteran of the Vietnam War and is completing his first term on council.
He is employed in information technology network services for Convergys. He is seeking another term to continue the work he’s started and to work with council and the administration to keep Carlisle moving forward.
“The only agenda I have is making Carlisle better,” he said. Lickliter said top issues are making sure the village makes the right decisions; to keep the village financially sound; and council to get back to working as a team.
• Long, 58, is the widow of the late mayor Patrick Long. She has three children. She is seeking a third term on Village Council and said she thinks “that a council that works well together, along with staff and citizens, can do great things in Carlisle. I want to be part of that process.”
“I believe I have the integrity, commitment and experience to serve the community well,” Long said. She said the top issues will be the village budget in light of the economy and state cuts; and implementing the new comprehensive plan.
• Ragar, 41, is married and has four children. An Army veteran, he is currently employed by AK Steel. He has served as park board chairman.
“I have a vested interest in our town and have the desire to move our city forward, while maintaining the small town feel,” he said. Ragar said the top issues are building a council that will work together for the betterment of the community; establishing and maintaining better communication with residents; and evaluating the city’s budget and cutting unnecessary costs.
• Sweezy is married and with three children. She also has been a member of village’s park board for the past two years. Sweezy said her goal is to see job growth.
“We need industry here in Carlisle to keep people working and a village council that can work together for the citizens of Carlisle to make it happen,” she said. Sweezy said she wants to make sure every person in Carlisle is heard with their concerns and ideas.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or Ed.Richter@coxinc.com.
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