Turnage: How Antioch Can Get a “New Direction” This Election

Dear Editor:

We are now 3 weeks away from our election. The grumblings throughout the city continue “Antioch needs change, Antioch needs a new direction”. This is something I also believe in wholeheartedly, that is why I am running for City Council. The question is how many of us actually know what needs to be done to get a “New Direction”?

The answer is clear, 2 votes on the City Council and 1 for mayor and the thought process can change. The question is which three votes best fits our City. If you are happy and content with the direction of our City then the voting process is simple for you, pick the 3-incumbents and call it a day. If you are not happy well then it becomes a little trickier. I am a candidate so I am not writing this as a vote for me “letter to the editor”. I am writing the following to hopefully clear up some of the muddy water of what is about to happen in this election as a Citizen.

We have a Mayor race for 1 seat and a Council race that has 2 seats open for election. If you subscribe to the idea that change is needed then many of you (us, we and even me) thinks that Lori Ogorchock is doing a good job and can be a part of that change.  Lori is already there with her vote in place, an equal vote to that of the Mayor. In our City, as a General Law City a Council Member and the Mayor have basically the same authority with the exception of a couple items. The Mayor runs the meeting, also the Mayor appoints for commissions and then the Council approves them in a vote.

So in my point of view if you want change, and you want to get to the new count of 3 votes then it becomes much simpler to get to if Sean Wright is voted in for Mayor. That would give 2 votes towards the change and only needing 1 non-incumbent to win a Council seat. Beating an incumbent is hard, beating two is harder.  Please do not think that I am slamming Lori in any way, I think Lori is a good Councilmember and I do think she would make a good Mayor. For me it is what is best for Antioch! For me it is for a change in our majority vote, and I believe that is what many of our Citizens are wanting, a change in Direction!

If Sean and Lori split the votes too much Wade Harper will be re-elected. Over the past couple years I have been able to get to know the man Wade Harper, as a person I like him! I would be proud to have him as my neighbor, as our Mayor I think we can do better in leadership for our City. This is nothing personal just  my opinion on what is best for our Citizens!

There is still one more side to this coin, If Lori is to win, then her seat becomes one up for appointment. Not the 3^rd place vote getter in the Council Race. So if Lori wins and 1 incumbent wins in the Council race (it is hard to beat an incumbent) then we are at a stalemate of 2-2 on the vote for who gets appointed. This can be very difficult to deal with and could leave us once again without change in our City.

We are 3 weeks away; many of us have our mail in ballots. We have to ask do we really want to have change? If so what is the best way to make this happen? By using the power of our votes!

I am voting for Sean Wright, that way I can have Lori Ogorchock and Sean both which makes this City 2 steps closer to the change we all want to see!

Ken Turnage II
Candidate for Antioch City Council