And, now, again.

Motil, a 53-year-old Clintonville resident, is a write-in candidate for Columbus City Council. He's running as an independent.

"This is part of democracy," he said last week. "This is every citizen's right to run for public office."

Motil has run twice in general elections, once for the Ohio House of Representatives and once for city council. He didn't win either of those races.

He also ran twice in primaries, once for the Statehouse and once for City Hall. He didn't win either of those, either.

According to a 1995 story in The Columbus Dispatch, Motil lost two bids for office with his union, Local 423 of Laborers' International Union of North America.

Motil is now a construction safety specialist with Elford Inc. He is a graduate of Bishop Watterson High School and attended Youngs-town State University. He has lived in Clintonville for 39 years.

Motil once was elected to the University Area Commission, serving from 1989 to 1992. He was zoning chairman for a time. He also was appointed to the Columbus Historic Resources Commission, and was vice chairman for part of his period on that panel.

Motil is no fan of single-party control of city council, which has been the case for many years. Those currently on council, he said, many of whom were originally appointed to fill vacancies, serve because they have name recognition and can raise campaign money.

"I really don't feel that they're serving as a voice of what the people's concerns are," Motil said. "I don't think this really serves our citizens equitably. A lot of our concerns fall upon deaf ears.

"I let people know where I stand. I'm not going to bow down to the leadership of a political party."

Motil said he chose to run as a write-in candidate because he did not wish to participate in either party's primary election. He admits that running as a write-in, and an independent at that, isn't the easiest way to make it to public office.

"It's tough," he said. "My biggest obstacle is going to be making sure people spell my name right.

"I do have name recognition. I'm a sincere person and I have a passion to serve the people."

In spite of his lack of past election victories, Motil said he feels he has a shot this time, in part because candidate paperwork snafus have ensured a seat on the Columbus City Schools board of education will be filled by a write-in.

Losing elections hasn't been frustrating, Motil said.

"I've never been the type of person to just sit on my hands. I'm an outspoken person in everything I do. So, I continue to run."