Five candidates hope to guide Wellington through difficult times

WELLINGTON — Five candidates are in the mix for three Village Council seats this fall. Incumbents William Bogan, Gene Hartman and Keith Rowland have challenges from Stephen Boham and Gary Feron in a nonpartisan race. William Bogan Age: 60 Education: Master's degree in education and technology, Kent State University; bachelor's degree, Ohio State University Family: Married; three adult children Job history: Retiring after 31 years teaching at Lorain Schools; works two days per week as a mentor in the school system. Stephen Boham Age: 72 Education: Accounting degree, U.S. Army Finance & Accounting, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; graduate of Big Walnut High School, Sunbury. Family: Wife, Donna Sue Boham; son Stephen Boham Jr.; daughter Jennifer Rowland Job history: Served in U.S. Army's Logistical Command during the Vietnam era; accountant for Contractors Inc. in Lorain; established Moon Precision Machine & Tool and Elyria Machining Institute; owner, Elyria Machining Service Gary Feron Age: 68 Education: Polaris Career Center for tool and die maker certification; Wellington High School, class of 1971 Family: Married; five children Job history: Retired from Pepsi, manufacturing supervisor, journeyman tool-and-die maker. Currently driving a school bus. Gene Hartman Age: 66 Education: Bachelor's degree, Bowling Green State University Family: Beth Hannon, significant other; son, Scott and his wife, Kelly; grandchildren Kenleigh Rose and Magnolia Grace Job history: Health care administrator for the past 27 years, the last eight years at University Hospitals Primary Care Institute. Keith Rowland Age: 51 Education: Wellington High School Family: Wife, Jennifer; children Chlo'e Brown, son-in-law Dakota, Ava, Eric and Jeremy Job history: Currently working for Invacare in Elyria as a value stream manager and materials manager; 24 years with NN Inc., formerly known as Whirlaway. Roles ranged from machinist, materials manager and product manager. What makes you the best candidate for this position? Bogan: I'm an incumbent. I've been there the last four years. One of my big strengths on Council is I chair the Personnel Committee, and personnel is big to me. Some of the things we've been able to get done is getting a standardized pay scale. Now every person knows based upon training and experience what their pay will be. Before, we didn't have that consistency, and it was much needed. I'm not a local person. Most of the candidates are people who were born there and have lived there all their lives, so I bring a different look. Boham: I am running for candidate not against anyone but I am running for the people of the village of Wellington. "Serve God, serve your family and serve your community." Feron: I love Wellington and have never had the desire to live anyplace else. One of my strong suits is working and interacting with people. On the Village Council, I will offer a fresh perspective on issues as a problem solver and communicator. Hartman: As a Village Council member for six years, I have served as Council's representative on both the South Lorain County Ambulance District board and the Wellington Community Fire District board and have experienced first-hand their growth and success. We are blessed to have fire, police and ambulance services all working together at such a high level. Our community has faced many challenges while I have been a member of Council, and we have continued to show our resolve and care for each other. I will continue to give back to this community and to see that Wellington continues to grow. Rowland: I have served the community of Wellington as a Council member for the past six years. We have faced many obstacles that we have overcame. Leadership is a big part of who I am. Those roles have consisted of manufacturing management, men's ministry and worship leading, coaching junior high football for Wellington for eight years and serving our great country in the United States Army. I'm always ready to listen to the public and address items that come my way. Wellington needs a solid, strong, consistent leadership on the Council team. I look forward to your support in November. What is the biggest challenge facing the village and how would you address it? Bogan: The Police Department is going to be our biggest challenge, law enforcement in general. I feel that we need the new police station. We need that upgrade, but we also need it within our financial constraints. And then I think we've got a challenge before us in replacing Village Manager Steve Dupee. That's a big position, and he's done a great job. But again, we have to do it within the financial constraints that we have. Boham: A candidate for Wellington Village Council's first priority must be to the people in the community. Establish and maintain needed infrastructure and services that support public safety and quality of life for residents and businesses. Dignity, honor and determination with willingness are a candidate's greatest attributes. Challenges facing the village are efforts to revitalize downtown, upgrade public facilities and promoting and celebrating the positive qualities of our neighborhoods. Economic growth is always on the forefront. Feron: Lack of communication is something I've noticed. We need to be able to effectively provide citizens with the information they need, while also encouraging them to get involved in the community. This can be done by publicizing meetings more, bringing events to the Patricia Lindley Center and encouraging the village to make use of existing communication methods, like social media and "Coffee with the Mayor." Hartman: The biggest challenge facing the village is continued pressure on our budget. We committed to using increased income tax revenues for the relocation of the police department and capital expenditures for infrastructure and equipment. The village managed our finances very well through the pandemic and was fiscally responsible. But there are projects that need to move forward: development of Union School Park, continued maintenance to our dam system to meet insurance requirements and upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant, to name a few. I will work in the budget planning process to include these projects in 2022 and beyond. Rowland: There are always challenges that face a community. With the recent resignation of our village manager, it's important that we fill that role with someone that has the community's best interest at heart. Serving the community during two different village managers, I have the experience to get that replacement right. Finishing the new police station is also important. We passed an income tax increase, and this project was a big part of that. The challenge we face is the rise in construction cost. We will need to keep digging and having the understandings of the must haves versus the wants. — Jason Hawk Read more election guide coverage