Only seven percent of the 4,868 registered voters in the city of Hillsdale participated in Tuesday’s city council elections, drastically less than the nearly 50 percent voter turnout in the 2012 presidential election.
“We’re a very complaining community,” said interim City Clerk Michelle Loren. “But not many people go and do something about it.”
On Tuesday, voters chose two new Hillsdale city councilmembers, Matthew Bell and Timothy Dixon. Voters also re-elected council incumbents Bruce Sharp and Brian Watkins. Only five percent of voters from Wards 2 and 3 cast their ballots.
“I think what threw a lot of people off was, with the exception of Bruce Sharp in Ward 3, all of the candidates were write-ins,” said interim City Clerk Michelle Loren.
Ward 1 saw the highest turnout, with 15 percent voter participation, and Ward 4 turned out nine percent.
The most dramatic competition for City Council occurred for the seat vacated by Mary Beth Bail in Ward 4. Councilman-elect Matthew Bell beat out Richard D. Smith and Michael Mitchell.
“Once we discovered that more than 120 people had voted, I was nervous. Had any four of the people who voted for me decided to stay home, I would’ve lost,” Bell, Hillsdale College’s director of programs for external affairs, told the Collegian in an email.
Bell took 39 votes to Smith’s 36 votes, and Mitchell’s 35.
“A dear professor of mine dubbed me ‘Landslide Lyndon’ this morning,” Bell quipped. “Let it be recorded that the only political similarity between LBJ and myself is that of squeaking out an election victory.”
Ward 1 incumbent Brian Watkins comfortably defeated challengers Dennis Wainscott and Ted Janson, taking 51 percent of that ward’s votes.
Ward 3 incumbent Bruce Sharp — the only candidate whose name was printed on the ballot — ran unchallenged, and he retained his seat with 69 votes.
In Ward 2, write-in candidate Timothy Dixon ran unchallenged, and took the seat with 37 votes. Ward 2 will continue underrepresented on the Council, as Dixon will replace term-limited Councilwoman Sally Kinney and the remaining Ward 2 seat remains vacant.
“I’ve had multiple people ask me over the years to consider running for council,” Dixon said.
He added that he decided to run after reading in the Oct. 1 edition of the Collegian that Ward 2’s residents would not be represented since Kinney could not run again.
“Because no one was running, I thought it would be better to represent the people of Ward 2,” Dixon said.
He said he hopes to contribute to Hillsdale’s economy and functionality as councilman.
“Roads are a major problem,” he said. “Maybe a fresh set of eyes would be able to help resolve that issue.”
Bell also said he plans to begin the process of fixing the roads, and that he will advocate against any raise in taxes.
“I hope to work with fellow council members and community leaders to find ways to simplify government and to ensure that the people of Hillsdale are in charge of their government,” Bell said. “I seek to represent my ward responsibly and to exercise prudence in office. I’ll consider my term a great success if I do that.”
