Mount Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — With 71.63 percent turnout, Knox County citizens showed up to let their voices and choices be heard. Not only were they lining up to vote for the next president of the United States, two county commissioner seats, and seats in Columbus and Washington, D.C., they also showed up to vote for the local issues.

Incumbent Zack Space defeated Knox County resident Fred Dailey for the U.S. Representative 18th District seat, even though Dailey carried Knox County with 54 percent of the vote.

“I put a lot of effort, heart, blood, sweat and tears into this campaign,” Space said Tuesday night.

Being able to continue in his endeavors to provide a stronger economic environment that includes the Renew Ohio Initiative, building a strong work force and infrastructure, and being able to capitalize on the things happening in the district will “create an even better place for our families,” he said.

Space plans to meet with his staff today to chart the course for his second term.

Dailey congratulated Space on his victory Tuesday night, and said he was grateful for the support he found within Knox County.

“I appreciate the fact that my home county was really there to support me,” Dailey said. “We had a lot of things going against us. A lot of Democrats this year are losing other seats.”

The Knox County Children Services Levy, a renewal levy of 1.3 mills, passed with 17,750 votes (66.74 percent) in favor and 8,844 votes (33.26 percent) against.

Roger Shooter, director of the Knox County Jobs & Family Services, was excited this morning with the final numbers on the levy, and said the support of county voters is great not only for his department but “especially for the kids and says they are worth a lot [to voters] even in tough times. We are so grateful to all the voters.”

Shooter said the landslide acceptance of the levy has a lot to do with the grassroots campaign implemented, allowing supporters to get the word out that this levy would require nothing additional from taxpayers. He added that 10 years ago, the levy passed with 51 percent of the vote.

The Knox County Park District’s 0.35-mill levy for five years passed, as county voters agreed to help the district with trails, park acquisition and park operations. The issue passed with 13,844 votes in favor of the levy (52.32 percent) and 12,614 votes against (47.68 percent).

Park district director Kim Marshall was thrilled with voter response.

“What it means is now the real work begins,” Marshall said. “We can do what the voters are saying they want us to do — finish and pave the Heart of Ohio Trail, help the Fredericktown Recreation District acquire park land right next to their downtown and expand recreational opportunities for Knox County residents to enjoy.”

Danville residents defeated a measure that would generate funds solely for the village’s police department. With 181 votes (48.14 percent) for and 195 (51.86 percent) against, voters said no to an additional 0.5 percent income tax.

The local option to allow Chapel Hill Golf Course to acquire a D1 liquor permit passed with a vote of 285 to 228, or 55.56 percent to 44.44 percent.

Fredericktown and Mount Vernon passed natural gas aggregate programs that will allow residents the opportunity to purchase gas collectively at cheaper rates.

Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis was pleased that the Mount Vernon gas aggregate proposal was approved. The program will allow the city to collectively bargain for better natural gas rates for residents who wish to opt into the program.

“I think people understood the economics,” said Mavis, whose main concern was that the proposal was sent up without a lot of publicity. He added that such proposals have been very successful elsewhere, and that he expected it would be a success in Mount Vernon as well.

All results are unofficial. More than 700 provisional ballots will be counted within the next 10 days.

News staff reporter Mark Jordan contributed to this article.