NELSONVILLE, Ohio — For the first time in decades, Nelsonville voters elected a mayor in Tuesday’s general election.
According to unofficial election results from the Athens County Board of Elections, Jonathan Flowers will serve as Nelsonville mayor starting Jan. 1, 2026.
City voters last year voted via Issue 23 to abolish the Nelsonville City Charter, reverting the city’s government structure back to a statutory form. But the council repealed the issue this summer; legal questions remain for the city.
No candidates filed to run for city law director.
Mayor, beginning Jan. 1, 2026
Flowers, a current member of city council, received about 59% of votes cast, or 302 total. He faced competition from two write-in candidates, City Manager Fred Holmes and former council Vice President Nancy Sonick. Unofficial results show 214 votes, or 42%, for write-in candidates but did not indicate the names or results for specific individuals.
Treasurer, beginning Jan. 1, 2026
While no candidates appeared on the ballot for city treasurer on Tuesday, Brian Elkins ran as a write-in candidate. According to unofficial results, 85 write-in votes were cast in the race.
Council
Six candidates ran for seven council at large seats:
- Jessica L. Hollenbaugh, a Republican, received 23% of votes, or 303 votes.
- Lynn Bishop received about 21% of votes, or 273 votes.
- Incumbent McCray Powell received about 15% of the vote, or 202 votes.
- Incumbent Nic Joseph Saul received around 13% of the vote, or 175 votes.
- Glenn A. Smith, received about 11% of votes, or 143 total.
- Wesley M. Henderson, who served on the council this year for about a month in August–September, then resigned, received around 9% of the vote, or 122 votes.
Council member Cameron Peck was the only candidate whose name appeared on the ballot for a Dec. 1–31 at large term. Peck received 56% of votes, or 227 total. Additionally, there were 107 write-in votes.
President of Council, beginning Jan. 1, 2026
Former council member Daniel Sherman, a Republican, won 100% of the votes. He received more undervotes than votes, 340 undervotes vs. 232 votes.
Auditor, beginning Jan. 1, 2026
Andrea Nicole Thompson-Hashman, a Republican, received 60% of votes. About 40% of votes were for write-ins. Nicholas Smith filed as a write-in candidate for auditor.
Treasurer, beginning Jan. 1, 2026
Brian Elkins was the only person to file as a write-in for treasurer, receiving 85 votes.
Levy and liquor options pass
Voters in Nelsonville also passed a 5-year replacement levy of 3 mills for road maintenance.
There were 306 votes cast in favor of the levy, while 254 voted against; about 55% yes to 45% against. The levy will cost about $105 per $100,000 assessed property value and generate just over $186,000 per year.
Nelsonville voters in Precinct 1 also passed a liquor option for Black Diamond Distillery, at 185 W. Canal St., for on-premise sales of wine, beer, mixed beverages and liquor; 105 yes votes to 53 nos, or 66% in favor and 34% against.
Uncertain future
Although several positions in Nelsonville city government are contested, the outcomes may not matter with the fate of the city’s form of government uncertain.
Last year, voters passed an initiative to abolish the city’s charter and return to a form of government defined by statute, which would include an elected mayor and council members elected by wards. Despite appointing an ad hoc committee to oversee the transition, the city council voted in late summer this year to repeal the voter-passed initiative.
However, the Ohio Supreme Court found on Sept. 17 that candidates who had submitted valid petitions must remain on the ballot because their petitions had been legally certified.
The court did not rule on the validity of the city’s decision to repeal the voter-passed initiative, leaving the city in legal limbo regarding the form of government it will have come Jan. 1, 2026.
A lawsuit by auditor-elect Thompson-Hashman asked the Athens County Court of Common Pleas to resolve the issue by Election Day. The court rejected Thompson-Hashman’s request.
Her case as a whole, however, could ultimately decide the fate of Nelsonville’s form of government. It remains pending.
The council will hold a special meeting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, “to consider and discuss and possibly act on authorization and instruction to the City Attorney to initiate legal action against the Secretary of State and Athens County Board of Election relative to the 2025 general election.”
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