HAMILTON — “Can't we all just get along?”

        It's a common refrain voiced by the candidates for Hamilton mayor and City Council in the Nov. 6 election.

        In their campaigns, virtually all 18 of them — including the incumbents — have cited the need for less bickering and more unity among Hamilton's elected officials.

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        Vice Mayor Tom Nye and Councilman Donald Ryan, who are running for the mayor's seat against incumbent Adolf Olivas, didn't directly criticize Mr. Olivas. But they strongly implied that he hasn't done enough to promote unity on council.

        “I think council needs strong leadership from the mayor's position, and I think I can provide that,” said Mr. Nye, who was mayor for two years before being unseated by Mr. Olivas in 1999.

        “For the past several years, council has been plagued by infighting,” Mr. Ryan said. “I'm concerned about the image that portrays to other communities and to businesses.”

        Mr. Olivas, whose 18-year tenure on council includes two years as mayor and 10 as vice mayor, agrees that there's a lack of unity among Hamilton's elected officials. But he blames some council members for that.

        “I would like to have a group of council members who are willing to work with each other and not against each other,” Mr. Olivas said. “I think I will be able to accomplish that with new faces.”

        This will be the first election with separate mayor and council races. Before this year, the top vote-getter in the city council race became mayor.

        Fifteen candidates are competing for six council seats.

        The incumbents are Katherine Becker, Archie Johnson, Richard Holzberger and George McNally.

        The challengers are Daniel Acton, Christopher Flaig, Phillip Grubb, Shawn Hamilton, Patrick Moeller, James Noonan, Art Sauerwein, Jane Schlichter, Edward Shelton, Robert Weber and Robert Wittman.

        Mr. Olivas said his two opponents have contributed to council's divisiveness.

        He said Mr. Nye went into a prolonged pout after he lost the mayor's seat to him two years ago. Mr. Nye denied that accusation and said that he has supported Mr. Olivas on many issues.

        Mr. Olivas recalled that Mr. Ryan became so frustrated with his colleagues at the March 14 meeting that he stormed out before the meeting ended.

        Mr. Ryan said he felt walking out was an effective way of expressing his frustration with council's disunity.

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