Tuesday, August 10, 1999
Monroe's Doty says council days over
Five others may run for 4 open seats
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — For years, Vice Mayor Gordon Doty has focused on community issues and decisions that affect this burgeoning city.
He's ready to trade his thinking cap for a painter's cap — and maybe a choir robe and gardening tools.
Mr. Doty, 69, who has served on City Council nearly 11 years since he was first elected in 1973, has decided to end his political career when his term expires Dec. 31.
“I love to paint, and for years my intention and ambition has been to paint my three daughters,” said Mr. Doty, a nearly lifelong resident. “I still have that to do. I'd like to do some gardening, and I'd like to get back to singing in a choir.”
But three of Mr. Doty's six counterparts, Bob Youtsler, Rick Kremer and Eric Detcher, whose four-year terms also expire Dec. 31, are apparently still politically attuned. All have picked up nominating petitions at the Butler County Board of Elections.
And they may have company on the ballot for the four, at-large seats. Mike Morris and Don Switzer have also picked up petitions for the job that pays $1,200 annually. But none of the five has filed his petition. The deadline is Aug. 19 to run for the Nov. 3 elections.
Mr. Detcher is finishing his first term. Mr. Youtsler was appointed in February 1997, and Mr. Kremer in February 1999, to fill unexpired terms. None of them could be reached for comment Monday.
Nor could Mr. Morris, chairman of the city's planning commission and a member of the commission two years.
Mr. Switzer, 46, said he will decide this week whether to file his petition.
Mr. Switzer, who served on committees to review the city's zoning code last year, and earlier, to study the possibility of merging with Lemon Township, is a political newcomer.
Mr. Doty said he's ready to step down, something he tried to do two years ago. He joined council in January 1974, but resigned in early 1975 for health reasons. Then in 1990 he was appointed to fill three years of an unexpired term, and was elected to a term which ended in December 1997. But days into his retirement, Jan. 13, 1998, he was tapped to fill in when Councilman Philip Miller was killed.
“But I'd be awfully hard-
pressed to say yes if they asked me to do it again,” Mr. Doty said.
Mr. Doty, who served about 25 years on the former volunteer fire department, also plans to retire next spring as a partner with Hedges Gallery of Insurance, Lebanon.
Mr. Doty said the community's growth has required many tough decisions. He was lambasted in the early 1990s when he led the way to a 75 percent increase in the city's low water rates to help pay for work on the water plant.
“I've had to help make a lot of decisions. It's been kind of fun. And hopefully I have time left to have a lot more fun doing other things.”
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