David beats Goliath. Just not this David
It was close again, as it was when Turner beat Dixon, and when McLin beat Turner. Gary Leitzell did it with less money than anyone, being outspent 10-1 at least. When we both turned in our petitions, Gary marveled at how both of us had 80%+ of our signatures valid, while the incumbents had around 60%.
The paper has unofficial results:
According to final, unofficial totals from the Montgomery County Board of Elections, Leitzell had 51.5 percent of the votes to McLin 48.5 percent for McLin, a Democrat. That amounted to a margin of 14,923 votes to 14,045 for McLin, a difference of 878 votes.
My numbers aren’t worth mentioning- getting beat by big numbers, but, when you consider I spent a third of what Gary did, in a three-way race, my less than 50 cents a vote is a major accomplishment.
To those of you who voted for me, thank you. To those who helped, an even bigger thank you- especially, to Gary’s people who also passed out my literature. So many of you were very kind to me tonight.
For the first time in as long as I’ve lived in Dayton, I feel we finally have someone on the commission who is genuinely interested in helping us make our community succeed. For a change, I believe we’ll be listened to, and actually get an answer from the dais when we go to a commission meeting.
The practices of secret illegal meetings will be halted, which has been my main goal in running. There wasn’t a candidates’ night where I didn’t try to drive home that message- Gary was the only one who listened.
I find it disheartening that Rhine McLin decided to disappear, after at least 20+ years of service. She typically has been a gracious and humble person, who would send thank-you letters to those who ran and lost- for exercising their right to run. I’ve gotten those letters in the past and marveled at her compassion. I can’t say that I think she has done Dayton any favors by the way she ran her final campaign, but, it is a lesson to learn from for all- negativity never works here.
Which leads to me. I’ve been called negative for my criticism and attempts to unmask the inner workings of our city. It isn’t meant to be negative- it’s meant to provoke thought and a conversation. I plan to continue my efforts, but with less frequency, as I have to work on rebuilding my business which suffers each time I run for office.
For those of you who are regular readers, you understand what and why I do it. For those of you who’ve only found this site recently, stick with it. I can’t do it without you- especially, those who rise to my defense, when things get cantankerous in the comments.
There will be another election, but I don’t want to think about it now.
And while I failed to get elected, I did win at raising the questions of where our city will be going. It’s not going in the direction it was before, and that made all this hard work worthwhile.
If you have a sign- or see one, please pick it up and drop them by the office- that’s a huge job I’m not looking forward to right now (I’m most looking forward to sleep). I’ll need them again.
And, keep your eyes on Qbase, which has another round of layoffs today. This site will continue as the watchdog on corporate welfare as a bad investment by government. By the time the next election comes up, maybe a few more of you will understand me better- or not.
Thank you Dayton, for opting for change. It’s been long overdue. Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell – get used to saying it.
I believe in the depth of my soul that Gary’s win would not have been possible without you, and others, working for sometime to expose what was happening with City Hall. It’s only the beginning. After you get some sleep we have work to do.
Yes David I will pick up some signs. I will keep one hanging up in my garage.
After your rested up and start working on your business, give me a call, you know where we left off, I need you working with me on my business.
Keep questioning and enlightening with your thoughts on improving Dayton.
Congrats on running a solid campaign. Hopefully there will a next time…
Rob Degenhart
[…] former Mayor of Dayton, Rhine McLin, who lost to Gary Leitzell by less than 1,000 votes, despite outspending him 6 to 1. She also was part of the team that conspired to keep William Pace off the ballot, despite having […]
[…] former Mayor of Dayton, Rhine McLin, who lost to Gary Leitzell by less than 1,000 votes, despite outspending him 6 to 1. She also was part of the team that conspired to keep William Pace off the ballot, despite having […]