By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — A trio of first-time council candidates will join a revamped Conneaut City Council next year.
Thomas Udell easily won a three-way city council president race, while John Roach and Robert Naylor captured the two available council-at-large positions among nine hopefuls.
A dozen people — five Democrats, three Republicans and four independents — competed for the three spots. Many said they were spurred by the rancor and bickering council displayed the past two years.
The results excluded a slate of reform candidates who had clashed with city leaders at public meetings, and also brought to a halt the win streak of Jacob Chicatelli, the only incumbent office-seeker. Chicatelli finished sixth in a race where only the top two vote-getters were rewarded.
Udell, endorsed by Democrats, outpointed two opponents — Ward 1 Councilman Dave Campbell and John LaBounty — to secure a four-year term as council president. He succeeds James Jones, who did not seek re-election. Udell received 2,265 unofficial votes, or nearly 63 percent of the total, compared to 941 for Campbell (backed by Republicans) and 400 for LaBounty, an independent.
All votes listed are unofficial until certified by the Ashtabula County Board of Elections later this month.
“I truly appreciate every person who supported me,” a delighted Udell said Tuesday night.
Udell also tipped his hat to his opponents, saying their candidacies displayed a real civic spirit.
Campbell ran for council president halfway through his first term as Ward 1 representative. He retains his ward seat.
COUNCIL AT LARGE
Roach, a Democrat, is a retired Public Works Department director, while independent Naylor is a local attorney and former city law director. They will replace Chicatelli and Chris Castrilla, the latter opting not to seek a second term.
Roach collected 1,384 unofficial votes, or 20 percent of the total, followed by Naylor’s 1,292 votes (nearly 19 percent). Trailing were Tammy Ledford (1,069 votes), Neil LaRusch (830), Mike Bambarger (753), Jacob Chicatelli (568), David LeVesque (450), Allan Mononen (280) and Marty Quirke (256).
Roach was pleased with the outcome and anxious to begin his city service Jan. 1, 2010.
“We’re ready,” he said. “I hope I can help the city.”
Asked the secret to generating so many votes, Roach replied “people know me.”
Naylor vowed to serve only one term and shunned advertising and political signs, opting instead for a Web site that spelled out his platform. Naylor could not be immediately reached for comment late Tuesday night.
