BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON -- After more than a month of at least one empty seat, the Lebanon city council dais is full again.
Six Lebanon city council members Friday appointed James Reinhard to the position vacated by Gil Jarrard, a 22-year-veteran who resigned last month for health reasons.
Mr. Reinhard, 47, already had strong ties to the city council. He served on the board from December 1985 to June 1987, when he moved out of the Lebanon area. Council then appointed his brother-in-law, John McComb, to complete Mr. Reinhard's term.
Although Mr. McComb lost the seat in the next general election, he was elected back to council in May after voters ousted Mary-Ann Cole during a recall election.
Mr. McComb was one of four council members to vote for Mr. Reinhard. Mayor James Mills and Councilman Mark Flick cast their ballots for Ron Pandorf.
Mr. McComb and Mr. Reinhard said they did not feel their family relationship would impede their ability to make independent decisions as council members.
"I'm an individual, and I have the best interests of the city at heart," Mr. Reinhard said. "John and I don't always agree." Developing a long-range master plan is one of Mr. Reinhard's priorities for the council. Another is for the group to put behind them months of animosity and work together, he said.
In the past seven months, the board has faced a recall election, the resignation of two members, claims of racial discrimination and a lawsuit filed by the mayor and Mr. Flick against the rest of city council.
