Local News
Only one of two council seats decided
With three candidates in a dead heat for second place, unofficial results indicate that there will be at least one new face on Meadville City Council in 2010. Two of council’s four seats are up for re-election.
With all precincts reporting, Republican Nancy Mangilo-Bittner became a member-elect with 1,013 votes. With Republican Tom Collard and Democrat John Battaglia each receiving an 773 votes and incumbent Democrat LeRoy Stearns receiving 771 votes in his bid for a fourth four-year term, the race for the second seat will be decided during the official vote tabulation, which begins Friday.
Votes tabulated on election night do not include absentee or provisional ballots or write-in votes. There were three write-in votes, but for whom will not be revealed until the official vote count. Also unknown until then is the number of absentee and provisional ballots.
If Mangilo-Bittner and Collard win, Republicans would claim their first majority on City Council in at least a decade, joining sole Republican Jason Amory. While Republicans have long held a registration edge in Crawford County — about 3,000 this year — the City of Meadville has typically been a Democratic bastion.
In Mangilo-Bittner pointed to several issues that likely energized a pro-Republican, anti-incumbent vote. Over the past year, the City Council made an unpopular move to increase parking fees and fines and has talked for months about possibily enacting a residential rental inspection program. The proposal has drawn a dedicated crowd to council meetings to speak in opposition.
Mangilo-Bittner, who celebrated an unspecified birthday Tuesday, said she appreciated the voters’ confidence in her. “I would like to thank everyone for coming out on a cold day and voting,” she said after the results were in. “I will do my utmost to help move the city forward. I think the tax base in the city of Meadville needs fixed. I think the parking fees need changed — again. The rental issue isn’t my main concern — there are things that need to be handled with the rental business, but my main concern is the tax base in the city of Meadville. People are moving to the township to get away from city taxes. It’s outrageous. And I’m not sure how you’re going to attract people downtown with $10 parking fines.”
“There were a lot of good candidates,” Battaglia said. “It was an interesting campaign — I guess we’ll see how it turns out.”
“I think all the candidates were good candidates,” said Collard. “Regardless of who comes out with the second slot, I think the city will have a good council team.”
“Congratulations to Nancy for having the highest numbers,” said Stearns. “We really won’t know anything until they start adding up the other votes.”
Council member Christopher Soff, who is currently a Democrat, will move to council’s center seat, replacing Mayor Richard Friedberg, who opted to not seek re-election after completing his third four-year term.
Soff had left the party when some fellow Democrats objected to his support for then county sheriff candidate Republican Nick Hoke.
Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.
- Local News
-
-
Park's recover may take longer than thought
It may take Pymatuning State Park longer than expected to recover from budget cuts that have forced the closure of the park’s 198-site Tuttle Point campground, along with its beach and boat launch.
-
Senior citizens may be charged game admission
Senior citizens may no longer get a free ride when it comes to admission to Conneaut School District athletic events, but that was about the only concrete suggestion that came out of a special Tuesday-night Conneaut School Board work session focusing on the district’s athletic program. Even that isn’t a done deal; the board is expected to take a look at the possibility of instituting a $1 gate fee for seniors at some future date.
-
Hotel makes major comeback under new owner
In many ways, the Hotel Conneaut is a business that’s as much about history as hospitality.
And as far as Greg Sutterlin is concerned, it’s all the subtle, behind-the-scenes work — upgrades to things like its water system, roofing and other structural elements — that will ensure the history-rich hotel retains that character as it’s again proving itself a viable part of the region’s tourism attractions. -
Maple syrup producers all tapped out
A week before the annual Maple Taste & Tour Weekend, while the rest of the 75 or so area maple producers were out trying to squeeze out every last ounce of sap from their maple trees, longtime producer Janet Woods was out in her back yard scheming.
-
Flood watches and warnings lifted
All flood watches and warnings for Crawford County have been lifted by the National Weather Service in Cleveland.
-
Big glasses, big hats, big parade
Shiny big glasses and extravagant hats stole away much of the attention at Saturday afternoon’s 23rd annual Jack Curtin St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration in downtown Meadville. And the stranger, the better.
-
SUNDAY ISSUE: Obama more popular than Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans have come to detest Congress ever more deeply as it nears the end of a nasty fight over health care. But more than half still back President Barack Obama, a bright spot for a Democratic Party counting on its leader to help stave off expected losses in elections this fall.
-
Greenville soldier lives 'The Hurt Locker'
GREENVILLE, Mercer County — He’s frosty.
Calm, cool, collected: Spc. Chris Marks, 21, of Greenville, is one of the soldiers who served in the U.S. Army’s 767th Explosive Ordnance Division. They’re the brave soldiers who risk life and limb regularly to disarm and dispose of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that have been a signature of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
-
Roads closed due to flooding; French Creek expected to reach flood stage by midnight
Area roads already closed with French Creek still rising; expected to reach flood stage by midnight.
- Body of missing Meadville woman found in Virginia
- More Local News Headlines
-
Park's recover may take longer than thought
