ATHENS, Ohio — The terms of all seven members of Athens City Council expire at the end of this year. At least four members hope to be re-elected, while two others and the council president said they’re not running again.
Ward representatives Michael Wood and Alan Swank, along with at-large members Beth Clodfelter, Jessica Thomas and Micah McCarey all confirmed that they will seek re-election to the council. Solveig Spjeldnes and Jeff Risner, 1st and 2nd wards, respectively, won’t be running. Neither will council President Sam Crowl.
Council members serve two-year terms and are elected in odd-numbered years. The council consists of four ward-elected members and three at-large members. The council president presides over all council meetings and is a nonvoting member, except when serving as a tie-breaker.
The primary election will be held Tuesday, May 6. Winners of the primaries will go on to the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Petitions to run for office are due to the Athens County Board of Elections by Wednesday, Feb. 5. The Athens County Board of Elections will certify candidate petitions for the May primary at its meeting on Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m.
Looking to return to council
For Wood, re-election would give him a second term representing Athens’ 3rd Ward.
“I’m really starting to get a good handle on the job and being good at it,” he said. “It takes a while to learn the ropes and responsibilities and I’ve been thankful to have that term.”
Wood cited housing as being a major focus and expressed the need for continuity.
“There’s a lot we’re doing in terms of affordable housing — a lot of major issues that have come up in that [my first] term that I think it’s important that we have some continuity in handling,” he said.
If Swank wins re-election in the 4th Ward, he will become the only council member to have served two complete terms. He was first elected to the council in 2021.
“That experience will be very beneficial as we fund and complete several large projects in the city — the Welcome Home Ohio affordable housing project, the Union Street/682 roundabout, the bridge improvement on Stimson Avenue, the Armory project, and our ADA transition plan,” he said in an email.
Continuing to monitor the finances in order to allocate the funds in a way that benefits Athens residents is important to Swank.
“I want to continue engaging citizens early in the process on as many of the items that affect their lives on a daily basis,” he wrote. “The citizens are our customers and they are always worth listening to and the sooner in the process, the better.”
Like Wood, Thomas won an unopposed race in 2023.
“I’ve been a resident of Athens for almost 30 years as a student, a business owner, and a parent as well as active in various organizations within the community, which I think gives me a varied perspective, which I think is helpful when looking at city ordinances,” Thomas said in an email.
McCarey confirmed that he will seek a third term. He was appointed to an at-large seat in 2021 and was elected in his own right in 2023.
Veterans departing the stage
Council President Crowl said he had several reasons for deciding not to run again, “but it really comes down to my feeling increasingly more burdened with serving the city in that capacity than personally appreciating my service to our community.”
Spjeldnes, on the other hand, isn’t leaving because she’s unhappy — she’s just keeping a promise to herself.
“I like and respect my colleagues and the administration, but I had never intended to serve beyond two terms,” Spjeldnes said. “I want to focus on housing concerns, so the myriad of city council issues distract me from that work.”
She’s also up for helping others who seek the office. “I’d be happy to mentor someone interested in running – assuming they are a Democrat,” she said in an email.
Risner is the council’s longest-serving member, having been first elected to represent the 2nd Ward in 2011. He said that’s enough.
“I believe … it’s time for change and new people to serve Athens,” he said. “I have enjoyed my tenure and I hope that I served my ward and my city to the best of my abilities. It was a lot of fun.”
Keri Johnson contributed to this reporting.
Update: This story has been updated to include that Beth Clodfelter is seeking reelection.
Update: This story has been updated since initial publication to correct the date for the board of elections meeting (It had been rescheduled from Feb. 18 to Feb. 14).
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