One of Athens' two contested races is the city's top official

The city of Athens has only one Republican on the election ballot this November. But that Republican happens to be running for the highest administrative office available in the city.

Randy Morris will square off against incumbent Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl this Nov. 8. Wiehl is seeking his second term in office, while Morris is making his second bid at a city position, having narrowly lost a race in 2009 for Athens' Fourth Ward City Council seat to Christine Fahl.

So far, no other race* on the November ballot is contested, though an Ohio University student, Aaron Grassel, whose Republican petition for an at-large City Council seat was deemed insufficient by the Athens County Board of Elections, has said he will run as an independent for an at-large seat. (* Correction: R.J. Sumney is running as an independent in the Third Ward City Council race against incumbent Democrat Michelle Papei.)

Last week, Morris said that after talking to former Athens Mayor Don Barrett about his (Barrett's) taking up the city administrative reigns after his retirement, the idea for Morris to do the same thing became appealing.

"I don't think that the current administration is doing a very good job with a lot of things," Morris said. "I think there is a lot of room for improvement. I think my background in the military and leading organizations of similar size to (that) of the city administration, give me the qualifications to do the job. And I'm hoping that people will think that a change will be a good thing."

Morris said that he is offering his services and that he considers running for an elected position to be similar to applying for a job.

"We're both applying for a job, and the people of Athens will hire somebody," he said. "It's a job I'd like to do. It's a job I think I'd do well."

As far as those areas where he sees room for improvement, Morris said that he doesn't think the city does a very good job of handling the relationship between college students and long-term residents. As a result, he suggested, it sharpens the divide between town and gown, when actually the main problem is a certain type of student or resident.

"I think in their effort to not offend anyone, the officials we have right now have, perhaps unintentionally, made it appear to the students that long-term residents think students are the problem," he said. "I don't think that's true. I think people who don't value other people's property, and respect their rights (and) not have noise that keeps them up all night, that sort of thing, are the problem."

Morris said he also has heard concerns around Athens that the city is not effectively enforcing trash and litter ordinances. He said he has had Democrats walk him through land owned by the city that's covered with litter and beer bottles.

"They say that the city doesn't even take care of its own land, much less enforce litter laws around the city," he said. "So I think enforcement of ordinances is something that's been lacking. I think fiscal stewardship of taxpayer dollars has not been all that good."

As an example, he pointed to the city's dealings with the University Estates development, including agreeing to a memorandum of understanding to purchase some of that land for $1.75 million if it got foreclosed upon.

He said that seeing as the city is currently run by all-Democratic elected officials, having a Republican in office to provide a counter-perspective would benefit city governance. This would include questioning the city's budget choices, he said.

"I really do believe the city would benefit from having a different perspective," he said.

MEANWHILE, WIEHL WENT over some of the things that he has done in office as well as what work he'd like to moving forward on if elected to another term.

He cited infrastructure work as the main focus at his current time, including work that will be done to repair the Oxbow Bridge over Richland Avenue near the OU campus, as well as work being done to improve the city's wastewater treatment plant.

"There's always a business component that has to be looked at, but you ride a tide that's beyond the city limits most of the time," he said. "I'm still working with the economic development council as best I can, and getting them involved."

Wiehl said that he'd like to tighten up operation of city code enforcement.

He also said he'd like to see the Athens Planning Commission be more proactive with regard to certain issues.

"I think we work well with the university at this point, not only (with regard to) the parties but with infrastructure as well," he said. "We did a good job working together on Jeff Hill. We'll be working together quite closely for the Oxbow Bridge as well."

He said he'd like to see more bike lanes throughout the city and more pedestrian-friendly routes.

"I'm a little bit concerned about where we're going to go with the solid waste district, how to fund that, how to get that stepping forward," he said. "One time in the 1980s we were on the forefront of recycling. We're not exactly falling behind, but next year will be the deadline for the new solid waste policy for Athens and Hocking counties."

Wiehl pointed out that due to the state's cutting local government funds, as well as state legislators eliminating the estate tax, the city of Athens will face about $500,000 in lost funding.

"So how do you do more with less?" he asked. "You have to streamline and you can't just work within the city. You have to work (together) with the county and other counties."

He pointed to some successful cooperative programs that are already in place such as the GoBus inter-city bus system. He said he hears that this program has been working well for international students at OU as well as others who don't have cars to get to Columbus or Cincinnati.

"The idea is to keep those things rolling even though there is talk about contraction," he said. "We have to keep our Athens Transit rolling, but tighten that up, too."

He said that officials have to prioritize when making decisions.

"This is what we look for; we ask what services are needed and are we filling the needs and desires of the citizens of Athens," he said. "And how can we do it effectively?"