11.11.2007
Big win for Coleman, Democrats
The Ohio State University - "The Lantern"
The Franklin County Democratic faithful filled the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Great Southern Hotel Tuesday night hoping to celebrate a big win, and the voters gave it to them.

It was an emotional night for Democratic candidates, staff, volunteers and supporters, as preliminary vote counts trickled in showing Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman with a comfortable lead against Republican challenger Bill Todd and a sweep for Democratic city council candidates.

"The voters have spoken," Coleman said to applause from his supporters in the room, before thanking voters, family members and campaign workers.

Unofficial vote tallies released by the Franklin County Board of Elections gave Coleman 69 percent of the votes to Todd's 30 percent. Incumbent council members Charleta B. Tavares and Michael C. Mentel were the top vote-getters in the city council race. They were joined by newly elected Democrats Andrew J. Ginther and Hearcel F. Craig. Priscilla Tyson defeated Republican Heidi M. Samuel with 64 percent of the vote in a separate race to fill the remaining two years of an unexpired term on council.

Coleman was flanked by the city council members and their families when he took the stage to address the crowd. He began by repeating the theme of the coordinated Democratic campaign, referring to the beaming council members standing next to him as "the team."

"Tomorrow is the first day of a new era," Coleman said, who continues by saying his administration and city council would build a "bridge to the 2012 bicentennial."

Newly elected council members Craig, Tyson and Ginther will not be new faces on the council. Each has been serving as appointees filling seats vacated by elected members.

"It feels pretty good that the citizens of Columbus have responded to good strong leadership, progressive leadership . . . that's focused on neighborhoods," Ginther said of the electoral endorsement of the entire ticket.

"The citizens have responded, and I think responded pretty overwhelmingly," he said.

Mentel, president of the council, and Tavares were each elected to their third terms.

"I'm very, very grateful to the citizens for putting these five in, especially with three new people," Mentel said. "I think it confirms our campaign message ... to continue to move Columbus forward."

Coleman said he was looking forward to his plans for the bicentennial, and engaging Ohio State students in it.

"We've got the best student body at the Ohio State University than any other city in the country, and I want them to be a part of the future of this city," he said.

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