Campaign 2007: Get Results Right HereNov 07 2007 6:46AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Democrat Michael Coleman cruised Tuesday to an easy reelection win over Republican challenger Bill Todd in his bid for a third term Columbus mayor. In returns tallied late Tuesday night, Coleman had earned 70 percent of the votes, compared to Todd's 30 percent. During his acceptance speech, Coleman said the voters embraced his vision for a positive city and his vision for a progressive city, 10TV's Kurt Ludlow reported. County-By-County Results: TOP RACES | Athens | Champaign | Clark | Coshocton | Crawford | "A mandate to make this city the best city in the nation to live, work, and raise a family," Coleman said. "We appreciate the vote that our public made and they did the right thing." Coleman said he would take a slight break from the heat of mayoral race before getting back to work. "First thing, make sure the Mayor gets a little rest so that he can continue to work hard for the citizens of Columbus," Coleman said. Republican challenger Bill Todd conceded defeat, but said there were more important things in the election than victory. "Victory in this election isn't as important as making sure we have good education for all our kids, that we have safe homes and good jobs for everybody who wants a job in this community," Todd said. Todd ran an aggressive campaign against Mayor Coleman, insisting that he was soft on crime and did not do enough to increase economic development. Democrats Sweep City Council SeatsIn the race for Columbus City Council, Democrats won all five seats Tuesday night. Charleta Tavares, Michael Mentel, Andrew Ginther and Hearcel Craig were the top vote-getters. Meanwhile, Priscilla Tyson earned the upper hand over Heidi Samuel in the election for the last two years of an unexpired term. Coleman spoke with 10TV News about the Democrat's sweep of City Council. "We don't always agree. You don't run government in a Democrat or Republican way - there's not a Democrat or Republican way to pick up the trash or fill the potholes," Coleman said. "What we do is continue to represent our citizens in the best we can.. We've done a great job, but we have a lot of work to do." School Board Members To ReturnIn the race for Columbus City School Board, four of the five members will return to the board. Shawna Gibbs, Terry Boyd and Stephanie Groce each won a new term. Board member Jeff Cabot was defeated by Gary Baker. Current board member Carole Perkins also won a separate unexpired term. School Levies Big On BallotsVoters in New Albany rejected a 2.34 mill bond that the New Albany-Plain district would have used to fund construction of a new building for fifth and sixth-grade students. The bond would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $72 a year in property taxes. In Canal Winchester, 54 percect of voters rejected a 7.9 mill levy. If passed, it would have cost taxpayers $241 on a home valued at $100,000. In Pickerington, the school district sought passage of 5 mill operating levy that would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $153 a year in property taxes. Voters passed the levy with 53 percent approval. In Licking County, voters in the Newark City School district were set to determine the fate of a five-year operating levy that would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an extra $137 a year in property taxes. The levy failed with 54 percent of voters saying no. A 6.2 mill levy that would raise about $9.6 million to fund improvements and operating costs was approved by voters in Upper Arlington. The levy gathered 60 percent approval. And in Union County, Marysville schools unsuccessfully passed a 4.75 mill operating levy that would have raised $3 million for the district. Fifty-three percent of voters rejected the levy. Stay with 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing Campaign 2007 coverage. |
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