Two newcomers, two incumbents win council seats
Two incumbents hung on to retain seats on Pickerington City Council Tuesday night, but one longtime
councilman wasn't so lucky.
Incumbents Jeff Fix, 44, and Cristie Hammond, 56, on Tuesday night were successful in bids to serve another four years on Pickerington City Council.
However, Mike Sabatino, 60, who has served 16 years on council after twice being appointed to fill vacant seats and being elected in 2005, was defeated.
In addition to Fix and Hammond, newcomers Gavin Blair, 25, and Tony Barletta, 48, were elected in the nonpartisan race. Barletta led the way, receiving 2,092 votes (20.55 percent), followed by Blair, who took home 1,894 (18.6 percent), according to final unofficial results from the Fairfield County Board of Elections.
"I'm really thrilled I got that much support," Barletta said. "We knocked on a lot of doors and we talked to a lot of people."
Blair, who will be the youngest council member when he takes office in January, said he was looking forward to the challenge of streamlining the city's budget while maintaining police and other services.
"I respect that the citizens of Pickerington elected me and now the hard work begins," Blair said. "We've got a budget to face coming up this next year and we need to hire a city manager.
"The citizens of Pickerington spoke loudly and clearly that they did not want a tax increase and now it's up to city council to tighten our belts and figure out the budget," he said.
Fix and Hammond received 1,803 votes (17.71 percent) and 1,628 votes (15.99 percent), respectively.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve," said Fix, who was elected to a second term on council. "I think the voters recognized I put forth a pretty good effort the last four years."
Hammond said she had no expectations going into Election Day, but now hoped to continue working for residents in her second term on council.
"I want to try to keep our budget going and maintain our services," she said.
Along with Sabatino, who received 1,416 votes (13.91 percent), Nikki Smith, 34, failed in her attempt to grab a seat on council. She collected 1,348 votes (13.24 percent).
The four victors will fill seats currently occupied by Fix, Hammond, Sabatino and Keith Smith.
Smith declined to seek re-election. However, on Monday, he mailed letters to approximately 600 Pickerington residents, urging them to vote against Sabatino and to support Blair, Barletta, Fix and Hammond.
In the letter, Smith took Sabatino to task for voting last month, along with Mayor Mitch O'Brien and council members Tricia Sanders, Brian Sauer and Brian Wisniewski, to fire Tim Hansley from his post as city manager.
"Due to the secretive, late-night nature of the way that Mr. Hansley was terminated, I would like to urge you not to vote for incumbent Sabatino," Smith's letter stated. "He was one of the elected officials to vote for termination and has yet, despite my public request, to give any specific reasons for his actions."
Sabatino said the letter likely played a part in his defeat.
"The voters spoke and I respect their decision," he said. "I think, obviously, some of them were probably influenced by Mr. Smith's letter.
"Maybe once the details come out about the motivations for Mr. Hansley's termination, people will understand my motivations. If I had to make that choice again, I would do so. I felt I made the right decisions and I felt I always had citizens' best interests at heart."
Incumbents Jeff Fix, 44, and Cristie Hammond, 56, on Tuesday night were successful in bids to serve another four years on Pickerington City Council.
However, Mike Sabatino, 60, who has served 16 years on council after twice being appointed to fill vacant seats and being elected in 2005, was defeated.
In addition to Fix and Hammond, newcomers Gavin Blair, 25, and Tony Barletta, 48, were elected in the nonpartisan race. Barletta led the way, receiving 2,092 votes (20.55 percent), followed by Blair, who took home 1,894 (18.6 percent), according to final unofficial results from the Fairfield County Board of Elections.
"I'm really thrilled I got that much support," Barletta said. "We knocked on a lot of doors and we talked to a lot of people."
Blair, who will be the youngest council member when he takes office in January, said he was looking forward to the challenge of streamlining the city's budget while maintaining police and other services.
"I respect that the citizens of Pickerington elected me and now the hard work begins," Blair said. "We've got a budget to face coming up this next year and we need to hire a city manager.
"The citizens of Pickerington spoke loudly and clearly that they did not want a tax increase and now it's up to city council to tighten our belts and figure out the budget," he said.
Fix and Hammond received 1,803 votes (17.71 percent) and 1,628 votes (15.99 percent), respectively.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve," said Fix, who was elected to a second term on council. "I think the voters recognized I put forth a pretty good effort the last four years."
Hammond said she had no expectations going into Election Day, but now hoped to continue working for residents in her second term on council.
"I want to try to keep our budget going and maintain our services," she said.
Along with Sabatino, who received 1,416 votes (13.91 percent), Nikki Smith, 34, failed in her attempt to grab a seat on council. She collected 1,348 votes (13.24 percent).
The four victors will fill seats currently occupied by Fix, Hammond, Sabatino and Keith Smith.
Smith declined to seek re-election. However, on Monday, he mailed letters to approximately 600 Pickerington residents, urging them to vote against Sabatino and to support Blair, Barletta, Fix and Hammond.
In the letter, Smith took Sabatino to task for voting last month, along with Mayor Mitch O'Brien and council members Tricia Sanders, Brian Sauer and Brian Wisniewski, to fire Tim Hansley from his post as city manager.
"Due to the secretive, late-night nature of the way that Mr. Hansley was terminated, I would like to urge you not to vote for incumbent Sabatino," Smith's letter stated. "He was one of the elected officials to vote for termination and has yet, despite my public request, to give any specific reasons for his actions."
Sabatino said the letter likely played a part in his defeat.
"The voters spoke and I respect their decision," he said. "I think, obviously, some of them were probably influenced by Mr. Smith's letter.
"Maybe once the details come out about the motivations for Mr. Hansley's termination, people will understand my motivations. If I had to make that choice again, I would do so. I felt I made the right decisions and I felt I always had citizens' best interests at heart."
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