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Three seats on the Johnstown Village Council will be uncontested in the Nov. 6 general election, with one member seeking to return after more than 30 years of service and another who was appointed just six months ago.

Council incumbents Cletus Beam, David Keck and Kevin Riffe seek to return to their seats, and no one is challenging them.

Beam is the senior member of the Johnstown Village Council. He has served since 1973.

As a member of council, Beam said he wants to do the greatest good for the greatest number.

He sees growth and revitalization as top issues facing the village.

Beam currently serves on the Johnstown Planning and Zoning Commission.

He's a retired teacher and coach from Johnstown-Monroe. He also taught at Miami Central and Vandalia Butler public schools, and he coached at Granville High School. Beam, 75, is currently employed in the outreach department of Newark Public Library working with senior citizens, retirement and convalescent centers.

A graduate of Otterbein College, he earned a bachelor's degree in education. He also completed classes at Miami University and graduated from Vandalia Butler.

Beam is a member of the Columbus Zoo, Dawes Arboretum, the Weathervane Playhouse and Licking County Players.

David Keck, 59, was appointed to village council on May 15 to fill the unexpired term of the late Bob Burrell.

Keck has been employed since 2003 with Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare, where he works as a teacher and director.

Keck said he strives to represent the best interests of the entire community, rather than just one geographical or interest area.

"It's important that individuals and organizations find common interests on which to work," he said.

Top issues facing Johnstown, according to Keck, include maintaining appropriate village emergency and other services in quantity and quality and proactively planning controlled growth to maintain the historical culture of the village while encouraging appropriate commercial growth.

Keck said he hopes to develop a positive working relationship between the numerous area governmental and private institutions to better serve common constituents.

While in office, it's also Keck's goal to keep the friendly, small-town atmosphere in Johnstown, while improving the economic diversity of the community.

Keck will also encourage Main Street redevelopment and be proactive and consistent, he said.

He earned degrees in social studies and student personnel from Ohio University. He also completed post graduate work in educational administration at The Ohio State University and graduate work at Trinity Lutheran Seminary.

Kevin Riffe, 48, is seeking his third term on village council.

"Over the last eight years I feel we, as a group, have led a very structured plan to mold our village into the small town atmosphere that has drawn most of us here," he said. "With the continued growth, we need to stick to our plan that was developed several years ago and just recently modified to fit our most pressing needs."

During his tenure on council, Riffe said he's most proud of a development plan that laid the groundwork for the future and will assist the village as well as schools in a financial way.

"I try to represent lifelong residents as well as the many newcomers in our village," Riffe added. "I have learned that sometimes standing on 'what was done before' is not always the best way."

Riffe said growth is the main issue facing Johnstown.

In his next term, Riffe said he's committed to making decisions based on the village's development plan.

Riffe works as an electrician at Cadbury Schweppes Bottling.

He served as Johnstown's mayor from 2004-05.

Riffe was also a Village Charter Committee member in 1998.

<center>mkuhlman@thisweeknews.com