Election |

Election 2021: Candidates face off in Vermilion council president, at-large, ward races

There are four Vermilion City Council seats up for grabs on Nov. 2.

The race for council president is between Larry Drouhard and Monica Stark while the council at-large race is between Steve Herron and Homer S. Taft. In Ward One, Emily Skahen faces off against Pat Stein; and in Ward Three, Teresa Mayle will face off against Drew R. Werley.

All council seats are for a two-year term. The council president makes $6,250 a year while council members earn $5,000 a year.

Council president

Larry Drouhard

Drouhard said if elected he’d look for more community involvement in city government, work to bring “more high-paying jobs to our community” while also emphasizing “efficiency” in city government.

As for why he should earn the nod from voters: “Energy, good intentions, a fresh set of eyes, and positive attitude,” he said.

Monica Stark

Stark, who has served four terms as a council at-large member, said she would work with the administration to improve the city’s aging infrastructure while also listening to the voice of the city’s citizens “while serving them with honesty, compassion, and integrity.”

She’d also try to grow the city’s commercial tax base “working with businesses to allow them to grow or open in Vermilion.”

As for past accomplishments, Stark pointed to her work on a committee that reviewed city health care costs “resulting in a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

At-Large

Steve Herron

Herron said he would work to improve the city’s infrastructure while keeping a watchful eye on such improvements. He also said he’d work to improve the discourse in council “allowing for community unity despite different philosophical and political opinions.”

He’d also work to make the work of the city more public by pushing for “governmental transparency under the law.”

As for why he should be elected, he said: “My experience, knowledge, and ability to work with colleagues and two separate mayors allows me to continue to serve our community. My responsivity to my fellow citizens will continue.”

Homer S. Taft

Taft said he also would work to improve the city’s infrastructure and “provide more robust, independent oversight of public administration.”

Taft would also work to improve the city’s zoning and services to “build a more cohesive community.”

One of his accomplishments he singled out was that he “worked on repeal of Lorain County sales tax increase.”

Ward One

Emily Skahen

Skahen said if elected she would work on improving the city’s infrastructure.

She also believes that listening to her fellow citizens is a strength.

“I listen to the people of our city, advocate for them and follow through. My past term accomplishments were based on that,” she said.

Pat Stein

Stein did not return a Morning Journal questionnaire.

Ward Three

Teresa Mayle

Mayle would have an open-door policy and encourage input from the community.

“I would like to make a change here by being available, encouraging people to reach out and express their thoughts, and engaging with me, so that I can accurately represent (the ward’s) interests,” said Mayle.

She’d also make decisions based on what’s best for all and not her own self-interests, she said.

‘Sometimes when decisions are needing to be made, a quality representative may need to vote in ways that may not benefit them personally, in order to do what’s right for the rest of the community, and I can do just that,” she said.

Drew R. Werley

Werley would be focused on protecting the rights of the residents of Vermilion.

“I believe that everyone has all the same rights all of the time. I would remind council of these rights and how it not only benefits the prosperity of all, but it will also keep the city out of litigation,” Werley said.

In addition, he’d push for the repair of the city’s infrastructure and would create a list that would prioritize those repairs that are most urgently needed. Working to bring in new businesses to ease the burden of taxpayers would also be a priority for Werley.

As for why he deserves the backing of voters: “Voters should select me because I believe I have everyone’s best interests in mind. That starts with their rights, I will never vote for anything that infringes,” he said.