LIMA, OH (WLIO) - 20 days after the election, a new Lima City Council president has been officially named and this close race shows the importance of people getting out and voting.
After all the provisional ballots were counted at the Allen County Board of Elections meeting, 5th Ward Councilman Jamie Dixon took a 55-vote lead over 1st Ward Councilman Todd Gordon to be the next Lima City Council president. After the votes were counted on election night, 15 votes separated the candidates. The race showed an important reminder that every vote matters.
"Today sends a message throughout our city," says Dixon. "A lot of people when you were knocking out on doors, they talked about why they were not registered, or the reason why they have not participated in the democracy or the process of democracies because they feel like their voice and votes don't get heard. Whether it be on the city level, local level, or the national level, but today we got to see those voices being heard."
Both men congratulated each other on running a good clean race, something that Gordon believes that others should strive to do.
"I am really pleased with the race that we have had," says Gordon. "We had a good clean race. I think that a lot of the higher-up politicians ought to take a lesson from running a clean campaign because we both did that. And so I am proud of my team, I am proud of Jamie. It doesn't mean that I am done, I will always keep working for the city and the First Ward.
Dixon outlined his agenda when he takes over as council president in January.
"One, I would like to continue to review the council rules that are before us already," adds Dixon. "Second, I would like to work with our media team at the city, as well as our administration, and seeing what we can do to take city council outside the walls of 50 Town Square. Making sure that we get more citizens participation throughout this process and getting them more embedded in local government."
Lima will have to find someone to take over Dixon's seat as 5th Ward councilor.
