City officials look beyond Athens

by Camden Easterling
Staff Writer

Athens residents will say goodbye to a city official if either Councilman Dale Tampke, D-at-large, or Auditor Jimmy Stewart win this year’s election for the local Ohio Representative seat.

The term for the 92nd District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives begins Dec. 31. Both Tampke and Stewart, a Republican, would have to resign from their current office if either wins the state race.

Stewart’s term as auditor lasts until Dec. 31, 2003. Tampke’s city council seat expires Dec. 31, 2004.

If either wins the election, his respective county-level political party committee would choose someone to fill the vacated position, Stewart said.

Susan Gwinn, Athens County Democratic Party chairwoman, said if Tampke wins, the members of the party’s central committee will vote on who they think should fill his council seat. The central committee members are elected by registered Athens Democrats and represent the city’s 23 precincts.

The committee first would offer Tampke’s At-Large position to Democrats on council representing specific wards — Kathy Hecht, 1st Ward; Carol Patterson, 2nd Ward; and Nancy Bain, 3rd Ward. If no one accepts the offer, other Athens residents could lobby the committee for consideration.

The democratic committee will not look for a replacement until November, Gwinn said.

Tampke said if he wins, his resignation would not greatly affect the city council.

“I’m only one person on the council. I think the council as a group has set a good direction for the city,” he said. “I don’t think one person leaving would have that dramatic (of an) effect.”

The Athens County Republican Party’s Central Committee will vote on a replacement for Stewart’s position if he wins. Ellsworth Holden, party chairman, said the committee will not look for any replacements until election results are announced.

“We’re not going to count our chickens before they’re hatched,” Holden said.

Holden said the party would look for another Republican to take Stewart’s place.

The two parties usually replace a city official about once a year, Holden said.

“It happens every once in a while,” he said. Stewart was voted as a replacement for city auditor Judy Hutchinson when she moved out of state in 1998.

Tampke ran for the state legislature in 1998 but lost to Larry Householder, R-Glenford. This is Stewart’s first time running for state office.

Stewart said he is running because the new district lines take effect with the November election. He said because a Republican represented the area before and he was comfortable with the leadership, he did not run. With his familiarity of the district through his previous work as a Caterpillar Equipment salesman, Stewart is seeking election.

In January, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft signed a bill that shifted the lines that define voting districts. The current district encompasses Athens, Hocking, Clinton, Meigs and Washington counties. The new district will cover Athens, Meigs and Morgan counties and one-third of Washington County’s population.

Tampke said he is running because he thinks the legislature needs to address several longstanding issues.

“We have some issues in our part of the sate that have been ignored for too long,” Tampke said.