Residents send pair of outspoken newcomers to council

Thursday, May 4, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo ) Jean Zeltman listens to Councilman Chris DeColli, as he speaks about issues

Both had become outspoken against a controversial annexation in the past nine months, and helped bring the annexation to a referendum on the same ballot in which they ran for council.

John Woodhull, who received the largest number of votes at 1,325, said Tuesday he believed growth ruled the election.

He and Gary Nelson, who received the second highest votes at 1,240, ran on a slow-growth campaign with Frank Johnson, the mayor-elect.

“The fact that the ‘no on Zeltman’ received more than any one person that ran shows that issues speak louder than people,“ Woodhull said.

Two-thirds of the 1,988 ballots cast were against the Zeltman annexation, which would have brought a regional park, a two-campus school site and space for 275 homes within the town’s control in exchange for 79-acres of town-owned land.

Nelson said he was pleased with the election results, and right off the bat wants to involve more residents in town business. “In order for a small town government to work as efficiently as it could, there needs to be a lot of support ... and involvement,“ Nelson said Tuesday. “The town will gain from what happened.“

He said the landslide proves that at least some parts of the town are “certainly a lot more unified as sometimes claimed.“ Nelson said he hopes to make the town even more unified, and to change the tone of the council and community to one of civility.

One project he wants to work on during his time on the council is creating a “planning vehicle,“ or a vision to help guide growth, and he wants to make sure residents are involved.

“They need a full part in that and everything from now on.“

Councilman Chris DeColli, who did not win his re-election bid, said he still plans on being involved in town activities, especially the revitalization of the downtown streetscape. During his tenure on council, DeColli was the liaison to the Main Street Association, a volunteer-driven downtown revitalization group.

“Community involvement does not stop with an election,“ DeColli said Tuesday, adding that he plans on staying involved in the Main Street initiative.

Candidate Jay Neuman said he believed a local resident’s personal agenda led to the large voting margins.

“There is no denying the clear mandate our town has given to Mrs. Michele Johnson’s candidates and their zero-growth agenda,“ wrote Jay Neuman in an e-mail to The Gazette Tuesday. “...This has been a galvanizing election for me. I have seen some of the worst of a few residents of our town, but I’ve also seen the very best side of our town. ... Thank you to all of those who supported me, and I want to wish Mrs. Michele Johnson’s candidates the best of luck.“

Michele Johnson, who has no relation to Mayor-election Frank Johnson, declined to comment.

When reached via e-mail for additional comment Wednesday, Neuman added that he would consider running for public office again if he was nominated. He plans on staying on the planning commission.

“Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to getting the ethics complaint against me behind me,“ Neuman added in the e-mail. “The sad part is no one will care when I'm vindicated since it is after the election.“

Resident Diane Gleason filed a complaint on Jan. 18 against Neuman, stating that he should have recused himself from any planning commission discussions and votes pertaining to property owned by CBI Development Group because Neuman hunts on land owned by the company. The ethics commission has not yet reached a decision.