By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

It was a wide open race for the at-large council positions in Galion, with five running for three seats. When the dust cleared all three chosen by Galion voters have been on City Council before.

Incumbents Thomas Fellner and Shirley Clark were in the mix, along with challengers Gail Baldinger, Paula Durbin, and Judy Gibson. The Ward 3 seat saw incumbent Mike Richart pitted against challenger Jim Hedges, and the treasurer post saw two newcomers, Rod Sparks and Bill Comerford, battle it out for Durbin’s vacant seat. Her post was up for grabs due to her decision to run for city council.

Fellner and Clark were returned to Council with the highest vote totals for the at-large seats, 1,512 and 1,024 respectively with sort of newcomer Gail Baldinger joining them with 989. Baldinger served on council, as well as president of council, under the old city manager system.

The other two candidates, Durbin and Gibson, had vote totals of 729 and 842 respectively.

Fellner issued a, “thank you to the voters. I’m looking forward to another two years. I think the city’s moving in the right direction. I think the mayor’s got the best interest of the city at heart and we need to follow his lead. There is no issue that is off the table to be discussed by council. Everybody’s welcome at that table.”

Clark was also thankful to the voters, “I just want to continue to work and help Galion grow and make it as prosperous as it used to be.

Durbin, the current city treasurer who has been at odds with City Council and the administration, was understandably disappointed in defeat, but promised that this was not the end. “I’m sorry the citizens don’t want to deal with the truth, but I’m not going away.”

Over in Ward 3, challenger Jim Hedges unseated first term incumbent Mike Richart, 263 to 163, and in the treasurer’s race Rodney Sparks beat out Bill Comerford, 1,157 to 856. Comerford was very gracious in defeat.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement. Rod is very capable of doing the job. I think Galion is in a good position either way this election would have gone.”

Neither Hedges nor Sparks could be reached for comment.