YS elects incumbent, new council members

0

YELLOW SPRINGS — The Village of Yellow Springs elected one incumbent and three new members to council Nov. 7.

Brian Housh, current vice president of council, will continue his service, while Kevin Stokes and Lisa Kreeger are the newest members.

Stokes scooped up 1,083 of the total 4,341 votes, or 29.95 percent of the ballots; while Housh received 970 votes, or 22.35 percent. Kreeger received 786 votes, or 18.11 percent. Candidates Chrissy Cruz received 342 votes, or 7.88 percent, while Taki Manolakos received 533 votes, or 12.28 percent; and David Turner received 627 votes, or 14.44 percent.

Meanwhile, current Council President Karen Wintrow did not make a run for re-election after serving as a village council member for more than a decade. Council member Gerald Simms served a four-year term and was up for re-election. He made a run for mayor but was defeated by Pam Conine.

Housh and Stokes will both serve for four years after receiving the most votes, while Kreeger will serve for two years due to coming in “third place.” The three members will serve alongside council members Judith Hempfling and Marianne Macqueen, who are each up for re-election in 2019. The village will not vote for council members in 2018.

The new members will be sworn-in by Jan. 1, 2018. Soon after, they will elect new roles within council.

In a questionnaire sent out by this newspaper, Housh said he is a former public assistance lawyer and small business owner. He added that he got to know the Yellow Springs community while working with the Yellow Springs Arts Council and Little Art Theatre as he led the YS-Opoly initiative and served as the Rails-to-Trails conservancy midwest policy manager.

“I have learned that ‘it takes a village’ to maintain and sustain a thriving and vibrant community, especially given a constantly changing world that requires elected officials to be vigilant, dynamic and nimble,” Housh said in the questionnaire. “I will continue to listen carefully to all citizens’ concerns and make decisions that balance those interests as much as possible. I will remain open-minded and committed to rational decision making aligned with village values.”

By Whitney Vickers

[email protected]

Contact Whitney Vickers at 937-502-4532.

No posts to display