Mayor candidates argue: Who's the better leader?

The two candidates for mayor of the city of Athens contrasted their backgrounds and styles of leadership during a forum held by the Athens County League of Women Voters at the Public Library Tuesday night.

Republican Randy Morris is challenging incumbent Mayor Paul Wiehl, a Democrat seeking a second term in office, in the Nov. 8 general election.

Morris, an Air Force veteran, said that while Wiehl has a number of good qualities, strong leadership is not one of them.

"Everyone has strengths and everyone has weaknesses, and I believe that leadership is one of his weaknesses," Morris said, adding that Wiehl has been characterized as a policy wonk. "I think he probably knows the issues he enjoys working on better than anybody in the community. But that doesn't mean that he can translate that into action, into solutions that can improve the city."

Morris graded Wiehl's performance as mayor at a C.

Wiehl said that there are different types of leadership, and in contrast to Morris' military background, cited his own academic background as a lab technician at the university. Wiehl graded his own performance as a B-plus or A-minus.

"I'm coming out of academics, where consensus building is more important," Wiehl said. "I'm looking at the facts, that wonk part; the devil is in the details… I think I do a good job cheerleading… I can jump into Strouds Run (Dow) lake in the middle of winter just for a fundraiser. I believe that shows some leadership."

On Nov. 8, Ohioans will have the opportunity for an up or down vote on state Senate Bill 5, legislation that scales back collective-bargaining rights for state and local employees. Wiehl said he does not support Issue 2 (which is the actual yes or no vote on S.B. 5) and urged a no vote on the matter. By contrast, Morris said he does support Issue 2.

Wiehl pointed to public employees such as police, fire, streets and water department workers performing important duties for the citizens of Athens.

"This is saying collective bargaining is not necessary, (that) they're resting on their laurels," Wiehl said. "They should be appreciated. Their intention is to be seamless, to make the city function without fanfare, without parade, in the middle of the night. I don't think it's an effective budget fixing device, Senate Bill 5, and I think we should vote no on Issue 2."

Morris said that he supports Issue 2 because he said it's in large part good for the state and good for the city.

"I don't believe that everything in it is good," he said. "I think over time it should be fixed."

He pointed to his own experience in the early 1990s when free health care for life for military service members was taken away by the Clinton administration.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, and perhaps this is the measure that needs to be taken care of," he said. "It doesn't matter if I support it or not, or if Paul supports it or not; the voters of Ohio are going to make a decision, and we as mayor, whoever wins, will have to adapt to that."

WITH THE CITY OF ATHENS facing losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars due to cuts to local government funds from the state, and the elimination of estate tax and tangible personal property tax monies, both candidates said they would strive to keep city services in place.

"I hope really to actually maintain the services as best as possible," Wiehl said. "I think reorganization has worked pretty well… We have other ideas of efficiencies to put in place… I'm hoping not to lose any of our services if possible."

Morris said that he would look at priorities and emphasize core functions such as street maintenance, sewer and water infrastructure, and police and fire protection. He said that all expenses should have to be justified and that a mayor should be advocating job creation.

"I would go into it with the hope that no program would have to be eliminated," he said. "There might have to be somewhat creative revenue creation."

WITH ATHENS CITY COUNCIL currently considering putting together an ordinance that would regulate the hydraulic fracturing of oil and natural gas drilling technique in Athens, both candidates expressed support for the idea.

Morris said he doesn't know if all the negative claims about so-called fracking are true, but likewise he's sure that all the rosy claims by pro-fracking people are not true either.

"The bottom line is that there is no need for anybody to do fracking drilling in the city limits," he said. "So I support a ban on fracking in Athens… Our water is very important to us. My grandson drinks the same water you do, and I don't want him to drink bad water either."

Wiehl said that he thinks the ban should be extended beyond the city limits, citing information from the state that a municipality has jurisdiction 20 miles upstream of its own water fields.

"Fracking in general I think is kind of a land rush," he said. "It's kind of an extraction industry. I think that both Randy and I would agree that it's not what we consider small business, nor is it a sustainable business."

In conclusion, Morris said that he hopes voters see the advantage of going away from the status quo and voting for him for mayor.

"I believe I have common sense; I have the ability to make decisions; I have the ability to lead people," he said. "I mean what I say. I say what I mean… I can work with anybody who wants to work with me. My opinion is that in this community, I think we can benefit quite frankly from a different point of view, a different perspective on the problems that we face."

Meanwhile, Wiehl pointed to his experience in problem solving as a university lab tech who chooses between variables.

"I have made hard choices," he said. "I've made choices that I don't agree with for the good of the city. I'll talk to anybody who will talk to me… I think we're going into a stretch of lean times trickling down from Columbus. I think you might need some experience and a sense of priorities from what's already occurred."