Jacobs, Awig and DeVries triumph in North Ridgeville City Council Republican primary

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Jason Jacobs, Georgia Awig and Martin DeVries are moving forward to November as the three Republican Council at-large candidates who emerged from a primary field of six candidates Tuesday. Jacobs was the top vote-getter, gathering 1,005 votes, according to unofficial results from the Lorain County Board of Elections. Residents could choose up to three candidates on the ballot. Coming in second was Awig, with 762 votes. DeVries rounded out the candidates who will advance to the general election in November with 677 votes. Jacobs said he was honored and humbled by the number of voters who supported him Tuesday. "I feel like I worked really hard over the last two months to be out and about, knocking on doors and meeting people," he said. This was Jacobs' first time running for Council after being appointed in January to fill the at-large seat vacated by Michelle Hung when she left Council to become Lorain County commissioner. He grew up in North Ridgeville and has worked at O'Neill Healthcare for more than 25 years. Awig, however, has run for City Council in the past with an unusual outcome. She was on the losing end of a coin flip after tying with Bruce Abens in the 2015 Republican primary for the 3rd Ward Council seat. Even though no one had to choose heads or tails this time around, Awig said she feels "lucky I am one of the top three going forward." "I think any of the six candidates would have been great," she added. Her campaign strategy included walking door to door, meeting residents and leaving magnets, sending mailers and earning name recognition over time through her involvement with respected organizations in North Ridgeville. DeVries, who currently serves as Council president, said the Republican field was strong this year and there was an abundance of campaign signs placed around town. "I said it before: No matter who wins, Ridgeville is in a better place," DeVries said. The three victorious Republicans in Tuesday's primary will now turn their attention to the November general election, when they will compete for votes against Democratic candidates Paul Wolanski and John Kevin McNulty. There was no need for a Democratic primary this year because the party did not have enough candidates running in the race to warrant one. Meanwhile, Republican candidates Jim Maleski, Steve Ali and Christina Doran came up short in the primary. Maleski collected 634 votes, Ali had 627 and Doran had 466, according to the unofficial results. "It taught me a lot. This is a life lesson," Ali said, reflecting on the race. "It is what it is." Looking back, he said there were some areas of the campaign he could have done differently or put more time into, but his family always has to come first. Ali, who owns the Xtreme Performance auto repair shop, said he will support the other Council candidates in November and may consider running for a ward seat in the future. Doran said she decided to run for Council because she "wanted to see some things change and be involved and help shape North Ridgeville." "I'm disappointed that I lost, but I'm excited for Georgia, Jason and Marty," she said. Maleski was the lone incumbent member of Council to lose in the primary. He was appointed to complete the remainder of Kevin Corcoran's Council term after he became mayor at the start of 2020. Maleski was not immediately able to be reached by phone or email Tuesday night. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.