Vacant Coshocton City Council seat filled
COSHOCTON – Two local men vied to fill the Coshocton City Council seat left open when Jim Baker passed away in early December. On Tuesday, Dec. 20, the city residents of the central committee met to find a replacement for a man they all agreed was irreplaceable.
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence in memory of Baker and in honor of our nation’s military. Members of the committee shared memories of Baker, including his sense of duty and his sense of humor. All agreed that Baker will be missed and filling his shoes would be difficult. Vying for the opportunity to serve the city were Chad Johnson and Tim Turner.
Each man was given the opportunity to share details about their lives and what they felt was the most important problems the city faces. Johnson feels that unemployment is the biggest issue the city needs to deal with. He also feels that drug use is a huge problem for our area and that needs to be addressed. Run down homes in the city are also a concern for him. Johnson served on the city council in 2008 and 2009.
Turner also feels the lack of jobs is the most important problem the city needs to address. He believes that the lack of transportation, such as the four lane highway, is a major cause of companies not wanting to move to Coshocton. The drug problem is also a big concern to him. Turner served as a Coshocton City Firefighter for 29 years and was also the mayor of the city from 2004-2008.
After asking the men a few questions, the committee went into executive session to discuss each applicant. When the meeting was called to order again, each committee member was asked to cast a verbal vote for which man they felt would be the best choice as a city council member for the second ward.
Effective immediately, Johnson will be the council member to fill the seat left open by Baker’s passing. His first official council meeting will be in January and he plans to file the necessary paperwork to run for reelection in November. Johnson said he is eager to get started and wants to make a difference in the city that he cares about so deeply.
Category: Government
