Clintonville Area Commission newcomer Dan Miller was elected chairman of the advisory panel last week at only his second meeting.

To paraphrase Ringo Starr: "You know it didn't come easy."

Two rounds of voting found the eight current members of the CAC deadlocked in choosing between District 1 representative Rob Wood and Miller, of District 4.

Following some discussion about the possibility of limping along with a temporary leader chosen at the outset of each meeting until the vacant District 8 post is filled in a special election set for Oct. 6, Wood called for a seemingly pointless third vote.

When Wood switched his backing to Miller, the rest fell into line and the eventual result was a unanimous 8-0 decision.

"I'm humbled, to say the least, and will endeavor to live up to your expectations," Miller said.

District 9's D Searcy congratulated Miller but also offered special congratulations to Wood for being willing to step aside in the interests of commission harmony.

"I thank you," she said.

Miller nominated Wood to serve as vice chairman, and that motion was passed 7-0 with Nancy Kuhel of District 2 having left the meeting to attend to matters relating to her daughter's impending wedding.

Current Secretary Jennifer Kangas of District 6 unanimously was re-elected to that post, as was Treasurer James R. Blazer II.

Recording Secretary Micaela Stratton also was reappointed, at the insistence of Kangas.

"We're a package deal," Kangas said.

District 5 representative Dana K.J. Bagwell, also in her second meeting, was elected chairwoman of the zoning and variance committee. The seven commission members also signed off on her nominations for members of the panel: District 5 residents Jennifer Cowley, Diane Hayford and Steve McClary; Steve Hardwick of District 3; Dylan Williams of District 9; Emma Heiberger of District 7; and Michael Haugh and Maria Kozelek, who live in District 8.

Miller appointed District 1 resident Andrew J. Overbeck chairman of the planning and development committee, at Wood's suggestion.

Overbeck works for the urban design firm MKSK, which has offices in Columbus, Indianapolis, Covington, Ky., and Pasadena, Calif.

Jason Meek of District 6 -- like Miller and Bagwell, a member of the panel since the July 12 meeting -- was named liaison to the election committee, which was the only action taken regarding officers or committee assignments at last month's session due to Blazer being unable to attend.

That brought to a close what was almost assuredly the longest meeting in the history of the Clintonville Area Commission. It began at 7 p.m. July 12 and didn't formally conclude until around 8:17 p.m. Aug. 2, the result of a tricky bit of parliamentary procedure in which the July session was adjourned to a specific date and time.

After the July meeting was reconvened last week, Bagwell nominated Miller to be chairman. Kuhel countered with the nomination of Wood.

In voicing the reasons they felt they should serve as chairman of the panel, both Wood and Miller pledged to work toward implementing the Clintonville Neighborhood Plan and to dial down the acrimony that has typified so much of the commission's activities and actions in recent years.

Wood, who said he had planned to seek the chairmanship of the CAC next year, said he would seek to "build a better American discourse" starting in Clintonville.

"I like the fact he always refers to us as a team," Kangas said in backing Wood.

Miller, who served as chairman pro-tem for the July 12 meeting and during its continuation last week, said he felt he showed he can enable the panel to function smoothly, rather that continuously engaging in debate over how to function.

"Wouldn't that be nice?" he asked.

"I think that's exactly what this body needs, is a fresh perspective," Searcy said in support of Miller.

When the first vote was taken, Wood cast his for himself and added votes from Blazer, Kangas and Kuhel. Miller garnered his own vote as well as those of Bagwell, Meek and Searcy.

So then what?

"Flip a coin?" Blazer asked.

"Arm wrestle?" Miller wondered.

"Rock, paper, scissors," suggested neighborhood liaison Isom Nivins Jr.

The same 4-4 split occurred when the second vote was taken. After some discussion about how to proceed, Wood called for a third vote, and this time switched his support to Miller.