Friday, August 20, 1999
Seven running for Mason council
Term-limits tiff adds spice to race
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — When voters here go to the polls Nov. 2, they'll be seeing some new names in the race for City Council — and they might be surprised about who isn't on the ballot.
Seven candidates are expected to vie for three open seats on Mason City Council this year. That is, if the Ohio Supreme Court doesn't rule that veteran councilmen James “Dick” Staten and William Kidder are ineligible because of term limits.
For now, they will be on the ballot along with other candidates across Warren County who filed to run for election before Thursday afternoon's deadline.
Mr. Staten, in his fourth term, and Mr. Kidder, in his second term, could become the first victims of a term-limit amendment passed by Mason voters in 1993. The two incumbents, who think the amendment unconstitutionally counts the years they served before it was passed, are awaiting the outcome of a lawsuit filed Aug. 6 by four residents in the high court.
The lawsuit calls for a court order upholding the city charter's two-term limit and instructing the Warren County Board of Elections to reject their petitions of candidacy — something the board has said it will not do.
“I feel confident that I will remain on the ballot this fall,” Mr. Staten said Wednesday. “I think this legal action is just an attempt at character assassination to damage my campaign.”
Mason's charter prohibits more than two consecutive four-year terms, without a two-year interval. The law was made retroactive so that terms of service before November 1993 counted in determining eligibility.
Even if Mr. Kidder and Mr. Staten are successful in fending off the term-limit assault, they face stiff competition from a pool of political newcomers.
“It's going to be a fun and interesting election,” said candidate Bill Ehrstine, a seven-year resident and attorney. “I don't think anyone's a shoo-in.”
Aside from the three incumbents, only one of the newcomers has held political office.
C. Tony Bradburn Jr., a one-year resident and safety engineer for Ford Motor Co., served on Springdale City Council for 12 years. He hopes to bring some of that experience to Mason.
Charlene Pelfrey, a home educator for the past 10 years, and Sheryl Short, a six-year resident and board president of the Warren County United Way, will be making their first runs at public office.
Rounding out the field is Councilman Jim Fox, seeking his second term in office. Mr. Fox was elected in 1995 from a field of eight candidates competing for three spots on council.
Franklin and Lebanon are among other communities with big fields. Candidate filings will be certified today.
Nine people filed for four open seats in Franklin.
In Lebanon, nine people have filed for three open seats on the Lebanon City Board of Education.
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