Johnstown residents recall council president, mayor

Days ahead of Johnstown’s Swappers Day, residents decided to swap out two council members.

Johnstown City Council President Marvin Block and Mayor Chip Dutcher were resoundingly recalled Tuesday in a special election. Residents voted 694 to 208 to recall Block. Dutcher was recalled with 646 votes in favor to 252 votes against, according to unofficial results from the Licking County Board of Elections.

The total 902 votes cast in the Block recall and 898 votes in the Dutcher recall were each more than double the 411 votes casts in Johnstown during the special primary election earlier this month.

The recall election comes in a turbulent year of resignations, accusations, investigations, interim appointments, social media attacks, city council executive sessions and a reference to a “civil war” in a community that officially switched from a village to a city in October.

Jamie Hartsough, one of the recall organizers, said the residents of Johnstown have spoken and she was proud everyone came together to make it possible.

With residents overwhelmingly voting for the recall, Hartsough said it sends a message to city officials that residents expect change.

“If change doesn’t happen, we’re going to handle it accordingly from now on,” she said. “The citizens are going to start paying attention. I think we’re all paying attention.”

Aaron Steffan, another recall organizer, said via text message Tuesday night, “I feel it’s time for everyone to come back together to make Johnstown that ideal place to raise a family and grow your roots. We love Johnstown.”

Block said he was at “complete peace” with the results and is not interested in running again in the future.

“I have no animosity against anybody, and I’m going to go on with my life and they can go on governing Johnstown,” he said Tuesday evening.

Dutcher could not be reached as of publication time.

As she was leaving the polls Tuesday night, life-long Johnstown resident Kimberly Ross said she voted for the recall because Block has “always been a bully.”

“He has gotten away with a lot of things he shouldn’t, and Dutcher is just about as bad. I just feel like it’s time for the good old boys to be gone,” she said. “We need younger people. We need somebody who’s going to look out for Johnstown.”

With the Intel Corporation breaking ground soon on its $20 billion computer chip manufacturing plant, Ross’ son Andrew Ross, said Johnstown needs council members who will help the city grow.

Residents Adam and Jennifer Roberts said Tuesday afternoon they voted in favor of the recall because of the recent ruling from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services that the city terminated former police chief Abe Haroon without just cause.

Brandi Rogers voted to recall Block and Dutcher because she said they have been looking out for themselves instead of the community as a whole.

Resident Kelly Mcconnell said she supported the recall because she felt it was the best decision for the community.

“I believe that we should have people representing the city of Johnstown that have the best interests of the city and its residents at heart,” she said.

The remainder of council must appoint two replacements within 30 days.

Hartsough said the new council members will need to be more transparent with the public once they are selected. She also wants the council members and city officials to communicate more with the residents, something she said has been lacking since Jim Lenner left the city in December.

Hartsough said she doesn’t have any interest in applying for one of the seats.

Mcconnell said she wants to see the new council members treat the residents with respect. She wants them to listen to all sides before making decisions not just making decisions based on who is making the request or what they are requesting.

When it comes to the changes Adam Roberts would like to see, he said, “I’d like to see people actually step up and fill the empty spots and not paying as much attention to what the person’s last name is or how long they’ve lived here, but actually the ideas that they can bring.”

Andrew Ross said the new council members need to have a modern take on the city.

“We just need somebody who’s going to steer it,” he said. “It’s not the small, sleepy town that people want it to be. We need to accept that.” mdevito@gannett.com 740-607-2175

Twitter: @Mariadevito13