Meet the Candidates gives voters insight

COSHOCTON – At large City Council candidates, Ridgewood School Board candidates and various officials representing several local agencies and organizations that have levies on the November ballot were among those expressing views at the annual Meet the Candidates night. The event, hosted by the Coshocton County Farm Bureau and the Coshocton Business & Professional Women, was held Oct. 10, at the Coshocton County Career Center with several dozen in attendance. Ken Smailes of WTNS was the moderator.

In addition to the Coshocton City Council and Ridgewood School Board candidates speaking, organizations with a levy on the November ballot had four minutes to speak on their levy. Coshocton County Commissioner D. Curtis Lee represented Lt. Jim Crawford of the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office spoke on the 911 emergency service levy. Jamie Williams talked about the Senior Citizen’s levy and Coshocton City Mayor Steve Mercer talked on the 2.9 mill, five year City Street levy, which will be voted on by residents in the city of Coshocton.

At large City Council candidates sharing their experience with the audience were Mike Cichon, Bob Pell, Shane Pyle and Glenn Mischler. Ridgewood School Board candidates were Dennis Bahmer, Dr. Vic Cardenzana, Marty Feldner and Frank Mathews.

Most of the levies on the November ballot are renewal levies, with the Senior Citizen levy asking for an additional .25 percent per mill. The Coshocton city street levy is new.

Angela Richcreek and Jill Lahna gave the audience insight into the Hopewell School renewal levy and Coshocton County Career Center Superintendent Deborah Kapp-Salupo spoke about the levy for the Career Center, which will raise funds to replace the aged roof, carpet, provide funds for security systems and other capital needs. The building is now 36 years old and still has the original carpet. This levy represents the only new levy on the ballot for county residents.

District Program Administrator Deb Bigelow discussed the Coshocton Soil & Water Conservation District upcoming election for supervisors and told the audience that any county resident can vote in this election which is not part of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 ballot.

Ruth Henderson, who attended the event, said, “I wanted to meet some of the candidates and find out what some of the issues were and what they thought about them. I learned that there are more things on the ballot than I thought there were and even extra candidates that I didn’t know about, so that was helpful.” Henderson attends the event, “Because you can meet the people and see them and hear what they are thinking. It is very valuable.”

mark@coshoctoncountybeacon.com

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