43
Mayoral hopefuls offer variety of experience
Campbell
The mayoral race here features two seasoned politicians — appointed incum-bent Bill VanSuch and 4th Ward councilman Lew Jackson.
VanSuch, who became mayor after the resignation of George Krinos in January, has been a 2nd Ward councilman, council president and city administrator. He was council president when Krinos resigned.
Jackson, appointed to council when the 4th Ward councilwoman, Juanita Rich, replaced VanSuch as council president, was city administrator for former mayors Krinos and Jack Dill.
In the city’s nonpartisan primary election in September, VanSuch and Jackson beat Nick Opencar with 704 votes for VanSuch and 626 for Jackson.
Jackson believes jobs are a priority for the city, he told The Vindicator.
He said businesses moving in will generate jobs and more income taxes.
One of his accomplishments as administrator, he said, was helping to obtain a Clean Ohio grant of $720,000.
He said he began that project during Dill’s administration.
“I wanted to try to get the projects finished that I started,” he added, explaining why he stayed on as administrator for Krinos, who beat Dill in 2009.
He said as administrator, he was often called upon to be the de facto mayor because Krinos wasn’t at the city hall much.
“We got projects started in the fire department with volunteers, and we got a grant for a $700,000 firetruck,” he said, adding that he believes the truck and the volunteers will help improve the city’s Insurance Services Office rating, which has fallen to as low as it can go. That has resulted in some homeowners’ and business owners’ paying more for insurance.
He also criticized VanSuch for hiring Dill, the mayor who was beaten by Krinos, as his administrator. Jackson was the administrator Dill replaced.
“People were totally upset he brought Dill back, because he lost in every precinct,” Jackson said.
Jackson also said he and Krinos didn’t have much cooperation from council on their initiatives.
VanSuch said he believes Jackson “has a little salt in his wounds” because he was replaced as administrator.
He said that Krinos never consulted with council about what he was planning, often surprising council members with legislation at the last minute.
“I’m basically saying, ‘I can’t do what I want by myself,” VanSuch said. “Everybody has to work together.”
He also defended his decision to hire Dill.
“His knowledge in 10 years as mayor would be an asset to the city,” VanSuch said. He’s back, but in a different capacity — I make the decisions.”
He also said he is keeping up on businesses that might be interested in the city’s brownfields area.
VanSuch said that when he became mayor, he saved the city $40,000 by renegotiating a contract with police that Krinos already had signed. The council objected to the contract, and the issue went to court.
He also negotiated contracts with firefighters and AFSCME, he said.
He said he also has applied for funds for next year for street resurfacing.