Mount Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — Excitement was high for local Republicans as they gathered Tuesday at The Alcove for election night returns. The evening became a bit bittersweet as the evening wore on, however, local Republican candidates — with one notable exception — did very well. But returns on the national level were not so encouraging.

“Nationally, I think it’s going to be a lot closer than the polls are predicting,” said Ken Lane, local attorney and former chairman of the Knox County Republican Party. “I’m not brave enough to offer a prediction of my own but I think it’s going to be close. But locally I think we are going to do quite well.”

Fred Dailey, the former Ohio Department of Agriculture director running against Democrat Zack Space for representative to Congress for the 18th District, did well in returns from Knox County, but districtwide returns were not so encouraging later in the evening. Dailey felt some of the issues facing Ohio and Knox County were jobs, energy policy, and taxes and spending.

“One of the big issues is spending,” Dailey said. “We just can’t continue to spend the way we’ve been spending in the past.”

Dailey was pleased with the near-record voter turnout and the involvement of students, both in voting and volunteering.

“It bodes very well for the country,” Dailey said. “I wasn’t allowed to vote until I was 22. I had been a soldier but wasn’t allowed until I was 21, back then. But by the time the next election cycle rolled around I was 22. I think it’s good for people to get involved [in politics] very early. And I think it’s good for some of these kids to sit down and take a look at some of these national public policy issues and some of the referendum issues.”

Local elections went well for the Republicans. One of the early victories was Teresa Bemiller’s win over veteran Democrat John Booth for county commissioner. When the trend in his race became clear, Booth made his way from the Democrats’ election night headquarters at The Dan Emmett Conference Center to The Alcove to congratulate Bemiller and concede defeat.

“The race was a long race and John was a great candidate to run against,” Bemiller said. “Obviously it was a clean campaign. And I like John and we’ve been friends for a long time. That part of the race was good.”

Bemiller said she was looking forward to getting started as commissioner and will spend the time before taking the position to prepare herself.

“I’ll continue attending the meetings until the end of the year,” she said. “I make sure I’m up to date on things, and I’m really excited about the opportunity to serve the citizens of Knox County. I certainly appreciate the support they gave me.”

Bemiller said she felt there were several challenges facing Knox County in the coming years.

“One of the biggest responsibilities the county commissioners have is the budget,” she explained. “They allocate all of the general fund money and in this economy, with the uncertainty of taxes that will be collected, I think this will be one of the challenges. We will work with the elected and appointed officials to make sure that we are spending wisely, that we are spending money on the things the community is in need of. I am hoping for job creation. I am very much for tax abatements that protect school funding. I’ll be working on that. Then there are infrastructure issues with sewer and water in Knox County. So there’s plenty to keep a commissioner busy.”

Like Dailey, many of those attending the election night event were pleased and encouraged with the high voter turnout and the involvement of many young people in the election process.

“I think it’s going to be close to an 80 percent turnout,” Lane said. “And I’m glad to see the young people turn out. I was an observer in precinct 2C and there was a high school girl there. She did a good job and was really enthused.”

“I think it’s a good thing to have young people involved and people in general involved in the election process,” said Allen Stockberger, who won re-election as county commissioner over challenger Serita Harris. “I’m pleased they all came out in big numbers. Overall I’m glad the election is behind us; now I’m going to go gather up signs.”