{"id":6108,"date":"2011-04-09T05:19:55","date_gmt":"2011-04-09T10:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/?p=6108"},"modified":"2011-04-11T01:02:01","modified_gmt":"2011-04-11T06:02:01","slug":"mayoral-council-candidates-share-ideas-during-luncheon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2011\/04\/09\/mayoral-council-candidates-share-ideas-during-luncheon\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayoral, City Council candidates speak"},"content":{"rendered":"

DAVE MOSIER\/<\/strong>independent editor<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"The three Van Wert mayoral candidates and three of the four candidates for contested City Council seats got the chance to state their cases to fellow Republicans during the county party\u2019s monthly luncheon held at Willow Bend Country Club. Mayoral candidates speaking included incumbent Louis Ehmer, former mayor Don Farmer and Second Ward Councilman Kirby Kelly.<\/p>\n

Ehmer and Farmer stressed their extensive backgrounds in both government and business, with Ehmer, who spoke first, noting his years of experience in city government, which includes nine years on City Council, three years as Council president and three years as mayor. The current mayor, who came to Van Wert as a white-collar worker at the former Chrysler Amplex plant, also stressed his more than two decades in the private sector and two certified business degrees he said makes him the most qualified candidate for his current office.<\/p>\n

Ehmer had much to say about the accomplishments that have taken place while he has been mayor, not the least of which was maintaining city services in the face of the worst recession in decades, while also saving back nearly a half-million dollars in a reserve fund and a contingency fund that could be used in emergencies that would avoid the need to increase taxes.<\/p>\n

Despite the city\u2019s strapped financial position, Mayor Ehmer noted that his administration still was able to invest $2 million in needed improvements during his term in office.<\/p>\n

The mayor also touted his work with the Convention & Visitors Bureau, the downtown development grants received and the part his administration played in helping get the funding to complete improvements for the 1,600-acre Jobs Ready Site north of the city. He also stated his opinion that city continues to move forward despite the financially challenging times. \u201cEven in these tough economic times, Van Wert is still a progressive city,\u201d Ehmer said.<\/p>\n

However, the mayor added that city officials still need to be focused on future growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will invest almost $10 million in the next 18 months to develop a job ready, 1,600-acre megasite for a large manufacturing facility,\u201d he noted. \u201cThis administration will do whatever it takes to meet that certification date.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farmer, a Fresno, Calif., native, who earned a business finance degree before coming to Van Wert with Central Insurance Companies, also talked about his business background, with emphasis on his entrepreneurial experience, which includes owning the former Mac\u2019s Delicatessen, founding The Paint Bucket in the 1970s and his purchase of the former Shine\u2019s Theatre in downtown Van Wert, which he renovated into office and living space.<\/p>\n

The former mayor also touted his background in city government, including a number of terms on City Council, representing the First and Second wards and in his current at-large position, as well as his term as mayor.<\/p>\n

One of his main accomplishments during his tenure as mayor, Farmer said, was in getting an additional reservoir constructed in the community at approximately $1.5 million under the engineering estimate for the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the reservoir speaks for itself,\u201d Farmer said. \u201cIt has created a recreation area for Van Wert (and) has given a water supply for industries to look at us if they are in need of a large water supply.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also cited the North Washington Street reconstruction project and efforts on behalf of the Towne Center retail project as important accomplishments during his mayoral tenure, adding that his administration was also fiscally responsible, with carryovers of more than $1 million each year of his term in office.<\/p>\n

Farmer spoke of his optimism that the city would get through its current financial problems and would be even stronger in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think my record in the past shows I\u2019m very interested in the betterment of Van Wert,\u201d the former mayor said.<\/p>\n

Kelly, the political new kid on the block, with his only experience his current two-year term as Second Ward Councilman, stressed his experience as a business troubleshooter, and, even more than the other two candidates, had some specific suggestions to improve city government in the next four years.<\/p>\n

He stressed his vision for the city, which includes streamlining governmental operations. \u201cI am hearing about the past as the foundation for the future,\u201d Kelly said, but talked about several recommendations he has now for making city government more efficient. Those suggestions include combining city financial services under the city auditor\u2019s office, more cross-training for administrative staff, having the auditor\u2019s office provide secretarial staff for the city administration and establish a centralized purchasing system he said was approved in the 1970s but has never been implemented.<\/p>\n

Kelly also said the city\u2019s website should be redesigned and that the administration solicit paid advertising for the site to pay for the redesign and maintenance. He also noted that a redesign would also better inform local residents.<\/p>\n

Code enforcement was also a priority for Kelly, who said his background as a troubleshooter and problem solver would also be a positive as mayor.<\/p>\n

Joi Mergy, currently one of three at-large members of Council, is seeking the Second Ward Council seat. She opened her speech with a little humor, citing her first campaign for office (historian) in high school. Like Mayor Ehmer, Mergy also stressed city government\u2019s ability to cut budget spending \u201cwith virtually no cuts in services.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stressed her view that city government was a team exercise, but also said controversy can also be necessary to move things forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes a little controversy is what gets people involved<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as what I\u2019m going to do, I\u2019m not going to make a lot of promises I can\u2019t keep,\u201d Mergy said. \u201cThat being said, I am a firm believer in Van Wert\u2019s future; what I can promise you is that I will continue to support policies that encourage fiscal responsibility and control spending.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Second Ward candidate also said she would support efforts to promote economic development within the community.<\/p>\n

Ian Miller, a political novice who is also running for the Second Ward Council seat, said he wanted to see more progress in the community and sees himself as an alternative to those who are currently in office. The Lincolnview High School graduate said he would like to bring new restaurants and other businesses into the city and said he feels the city needs to provide more economic opportunities for its young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see if we can give back to our kids,\u201d Miller added. \u201cThey\u2019re the future of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pete Weir was the only one of two candidates running for the Fourth Ward Council seat being vacated by Stan Agler who attended Friday\u2019s GOP luncheon. The career military man, who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and rose from the enlisted ranks to become a commissioned officer, said that, despite his years away from the city while in the Navy, he always timed his leave time to coincide with the Van Wert County Fair. \u201cI love it here,\u201d Weir said of the town in which he grew up. \u201cI love the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weir, who has a computer science degree and is currently back in school seeking a degree in quality engineering, said he has attended a number of Council and community meetings to learn about what he needs to know to be a good Council member, if elected.<\/p>\n

He also provided some of his philosophy on city government. \u201cI believe in this community, I believe in the people who live here \u2026 we must let go of our differences and work as one \u2026 we just need to keep on going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weir said city residents — and city government — need to \u201covercome the inertia that often keeps a community from progressing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bob Hughes, Weir\u2019s opponent for the Republican nomination for the Fourth Ward Council seat, did not attend the luncheon.<\/p>\n

Early voting is currently underway, with Election Day less than a month in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DAVE MOSIER\/independent editor The three Van Wert mayoral candidates and three of the four candidates for contested City Council seats got the chance to state their cases to fellow Republicans during the county party\u2019s monthly luncheon held at Willow Bend Country Club. Mayoral candidates speaking included incumbent Louis Ehmer, former mayor Don Farmer and Second […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-03 21:02:17","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6108"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6108\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}