Tuesday’s election brought 3 new faces to the Tipp City Council. Incumbent Pat Hale was able to retain his seat, and newcomers Joe Gibson, Bryan Budding and Katelyn Black were also elected. Former Councilman, and Mayor Don Ochs was handily defeated again, his second rout in as many elections. But what does this all mean in the final analysis? In order to find out, one must give this election result closer scrutiny.
Joe Gibson, attorney, and Planning Board Member was the top vote-getter in an impressive showing. According to final results, he garnered more votes than the top vote-getters in 2007 (John Kessler) and 2005 (Vicki Blakey). He was able to out-perform a current Council President (Hale), a former Mayor (Ochs), and a wildly popular young up-start (Black). Apparently, his appeal to that famous “silent majority” did resonate with many voters, as did his stand on cutting spending, and avoiding new taxes. Apparently, name recognition was not a problem either. In his time on the Planning Board, and the Tipp-Monroe Cable Access Commission he worked with many movers and shakers and established a name for himself. But he represents a change in the direction the City is going. “Each year City departments are spending more and more. I’ve got it right here in the budget.” He said at the Chamber’s Meet the Candidates Forum.
Later Gibson went on to state “While other communities are having to lay-off workers, and tightening their belts, we’re spending more and more. Why is this? We need to watch our spending like every other town and every other citizen”. This spending issue was the subject of an opinion article in the Tipp New Daily on September 6, 2009. (LINK). Gibson’s showing can be attributed to the citizen’s agreement with this frustration, and his own call for less government spending. He is not an establishment candidate, with many “friends on the inside”. That silent majority is not so silent any more. But his besting of Hale also raises questions of whether the status quo is no longer accepted by the voters.
Moreover, in electing total newcomers Brian Budding and Katelyn Black the voters clearly sent a message that a fresh perspective is needed. The voters could have chosen another “establishment candidate” in the form of former Mayor Don Ochs, but soundly rejected him again. Was this due to only to the negative press from his legal problems with his neighbor and the property-line dispute, or has Och’s performance as an elected official been that dismal that he has lost all voter appeal. There were whispers at the Government Center that the City might have been improperly involved with the property dispute, and there are mounting calls for an investigation. Either way, any hopes of Ochs the “establishment candidate” re-establishing himself (and the status quo) at City Hall have been dashed, apparently for good.
But the most compelling story of this election is the voting-in of 19 year-old Katelyn Black to Council. With no political experience at all, and a limited stint on the Board of Zoning Appeals, Black represents a totally new, fresh (and possible naïve) perspective to local government. She will either stand up to the status quo along with Gibson, or she will fall right in with those presently in power. Prior elections had this same pattern with a fresh face, fairly popular with their constituency, getting voted in, only to throw-in with the status quo crowd (read: Blakey, Evans, and Kessler). Will Katelyn Black follow suit? Only time will tell.
And what about Budding, the political unknown in the race. Will he throw in with the status quo crowd too, or assert his independence on Council. So little is known about him that one can only hazard to guess. But one thing is certain; he and Katelyn Black resoundingly defeated Don Ochs, a long-term Council member, former Mayor, and former council President. What does this say about how the voters view their local government? Was it truly Och’s personal issues, or was it something more? As to Black, perhaps the voters wanted someone who has the youthful brass to simply say “Heck with you” (Cleaned-up version) “I‘m voting no”. Or perhaps the voters are so concerned (better yet, mad) with the present state of things that anything, ANYTHING is better than the status quo. We will all have to see.
The first public appearance for any of the newly-elected council members could be as early as November 10th at the Town Hall Meeting on the City’s budget. While not officially on Council yet, Gibson is rumored to be making a formal presentation as a Citizen or Councilman-Elect. The others have not yet weighed in. Their terms of office start in early January, 2010. Wish them all luck!
About D.R. Atchison: D.R. Atchison is a Citizen-journalist who has resided in Tipp City for over 11 years with his wife and children. He is an observer of life and people, and appreciates the mundane if not the obscure, but knows a good news story when he sees one. He keeps his camera in his car, and is always on the look-out for local news to report to the Tipp News DAILY. His submitted articles are subject to modification in accordance with the editorial policies of Tipp News DAILY.
