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Voters Hand
Three R-2 Candidates Clear Victories
Although the voter turnout in Tuesday's election was low (just over 21 percent), the voters who did cast ballots handed three Chillicothe R-2 school board candidates clear victories. Incumbents Eric Reeter and David Williams were both soundly re-elected to the panel, along with newcomer Michael R. Leamer. Reeter, who earned his second three-year term on the board, pocketed the most votes - 1,167 and carried all four of the city's wards as well as Wheeling Township and the combined townships of Chillicothe/Rich Hill and Jackson/Sampsel. Williams won 926 votes and will begin his third consecutive three-year term this spring. He carried the combined voter precincts of Fairview/Grand River and Jackson/Sampsel townships. Leamer, who earned 878 votes, will fill the seat left vacant by John Cook, who resigned from the board earlier this year. The newcomer carried the combined voting precinct of Blue Mound/Monroe Townships. In Cream Ridge Township, Reeter, Williams and Leamer each received one vote. The other candidates vying for spots on the board and their respective vote totals were: Larry Hamrick, 468; Robbie Skipper, 403; Dean Souders, 97; and John C. Pelly, 3. There were three votes for write-in candidates. Reeter, who is currently serving as R-2 board president, said he felt good about the election results. "I appreciate all of the support that I've gotten. It makes me feel like maybe we (the board) have done something right over the past three years," he said. Reeter said his bid for re-election started on Feb. 1 with the formation of a campaign committee. About a week later, about 60 letters were sent asking for votes and/or monetary donations. Reeter said that his campaign received $1,541 in contributions which were spent on print and Cable TV advertisements starting in mid-March. "I appreciate the support the (R-2) patrons have shown and will do my best not to let them down," Reeter said. Williams said Tuesday night he was pleased with his margin of victory and is happy to have earned another three-year term on the board. "I appreciate those people who supported and voted for me," Williams said. His campaign started at the end of February and consisted of running print ads in the local media and talking with people. Tuesday's election marked a successful end to Leamer's second consecutive try for a board seat after coming up just shy last year. Comparing the 2008 campaign with last year's unsuccessful bid for the board, Leamer said he did "nothing different" this year. "I'm happy with all the confidence the voters have shown in me and I look forward to serving on the school board," Leamer said. While voter turnout was much lower Tuesday than in the 2007 election, Leamer received exactly 50 more votes. He said his campaign kicked off during the last part of February or the first part of March with the publishing of print ads in the local media and knocking on a few doors within the city limits. Leamer said that he was grateful for the support of his wife and family and the voters of the Chillicothe R-2 School District. Hamrick, who came up short in his first bid for an R-2 board seat offered his congratulations to Leamer, Reeter and Williams and wished them well. "This school board will have a lot of challenges ahead of them with a lot of issues on their plate (going into a recession), which will make it hard for them to accomplish their goals. I wish them all the best and offer my services - I'd be glad to help out in any way," Hamrick said. He added that voters will likely be seeing his name on the ballot next year and has plans already for running that campaign differently. "I was pretty limited on funds this year. Next time, I will probably form a committee, do some fund-raising and spend a little more time at it," he said. Hamrick's campaign started about three weeks ago with the running of some advertising in the print media and over the radio. He also said that he did distribute some yards signs to supporters. And while coming up short in his bid for a board seat, Hamrick said yesterday's voter turnout left much to be desired. "I am a little disappointed with the amount of people that turned out to vote. I was hoping for a better voter turnout," Hamrick said. Skipper, who saw his second bid for an R-2 seat come up shy again for the second year running, said Tuesday night that he was disappointed with the election results. "I guess it's just not my time - but the third time's a charm," he said, explaining that he will likely make a third run for a board seat next year. Skipper said he felt like he lost some ground this year as far as the vote count. (Last year, he pocketed 30 more votes). He said that this year's campaign included more advertising in the print media. Dean Souders, who also ran unsuccessfully for a board seat last year, said that he was happy with his showing at the polls, and noted that he had received more votes (34) than he did last year. "I'll probably try again next year - just keep at it," he said. Souders said his campaign consisted of mostly just talking with people. Tuesday night also marked the end of Pelly's second consecutive unsuccessful attempt at earning a board seat. He earned 30 less votes this year than he did in 2007.Attempts to reach Pelly for a comment regarding his campaign proved unsuccessful as of press time today (Wednesday). |
