By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — Companies that print campaign signs for candidates can’t be too happy with Robert Naylor right now.
Using nary a sign nor other means of advertising, Naylor was able to secure a seat on Conneaut’s City Council in Tuesday’s general election. Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, he will be an at-large councilman,
No one was more surprised with the success of the low-profile approach than the candidate himself.
“I was surprised I won,” he said Wednesday morning.
Naylor gathered 1,292 unofficial votes, second only to the 1,384 snagged by John Roach, the other at-large winner. Roach and Naylor will be two of three new faces on the panel come 2010, joining council president-elect Thomas Udell.
Asked how an independent candidate could find favor in highly political Conneaut, Naylor said he put an issues-oriented platform before voters.
“I had hoped voters would look at issues as opposed to a popularity contest,” he said.
As a declared independent, Naylor suddenly finds himself a very key member of council. Over the past two years, members sometimes voted along party lines. When that occurs starting in 2010, Naylor will serve as tie-breaker.
Naylor said he doesn’t necessarily skew to a particular political philosophy. Naylor’s pledge to serve only one four-term makes it easy to vote for the city’s best interests and not his own, he said.
“I will really take a look at both sides,” Naylor said. “My role is to not pick one or the other but to look at the issue and make the best decision possible. My reason for running has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with moving the city forward.”
After two years of council squabbling, voters may have been ready for some low-profile public servants, Naylor said.
“We’re all low-key people (referring to the three council winners),” he said.
Udell said he talked to Roach and Naylor, and the trio is ready to go to work.
“We’re really excited to get started,” he said.
Udell has ideas on how business will be conducted but cautioned revisions may not occur quickly.
“Changes aren’t going to happen overnight,” he said.
Roach was not immediately available for comment Wednesday afternoon.
