Filing Deadline Is Today

Today is the filing deadline for those candidates running for city council. Thus far, for the first ward only Jim Armbruster has filed, but Gary Lee Barge told MiddletownUSA.com late last night that he plans to file this morning.

For the complete story click here August 20, 2009 Deadline To File For City Council

The election of Gary Barge is essential if the average citizen is again to have any say in what goes on in our community.  GO GARY GO ......... MIDDLETOWN NEEDS YOU BADLY!

Gary Lee Barge and Andrew Smith have officially filled their petitions 

I have just heard that Leslie Ford's petition is not valid?

By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 2:27 PM Thursday, August 20, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — A lack of valid signatures from voters has derailed an incumbent councilwoman’s bid for re-election.

According to the Butler County Board of Elections, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Leslie Ford did not have enough valid signatures from residents that matched voter registration cards when she filed her petitions.

The deadline to file petitions with the board of elections is 4 p.m. today.

That means the race for the 2nd Ward seat on council will come down to A.J. Smith, of 16th Avenue, who filed his petitions today, and John Soppanish, of Lafayette Avenue.

For someone named "Smartman", you aren't coming across that way.  I know that you do know AJ, but your attitude towards only shows that you have a personal grudge against him that I can guess has nothing to do with politics or his ability to be a leader in this city.  He's made decisions that have sent him in non-traditional directions, but look at what he has done in the short time since high school.  Talk to him TODAY and see who he is and what he will be able to do for Middletown.  AJ doesn't have to "come back and then be somebody" -- he IS somebody right now.  As for your comments about his role in the Obama campaign and his affiliation with Steve Hightower ... that only shows that perhaps you are the one who should be doing some growing up.  Clearly, age doesn't matter when it comes to maturity.

What AJ brings is the willingness to discuss issues, work with people he may not always agree with, and bring out ideas that folks with more "experience" might dismiss because they fall into the "that's been done and didn't work" rut.  Since the council is made up of more than one person, the combination of the different experiences and perspectives are what will make the council effective or not.

Spider I hear what you say, and maybe I might be a little hard. I applaude his energy and willingness to serve. He just needs to understand that he needs experience. You would not hire him as a manager and neither would I, and we are just business folks. At 20 years old he needs to be living life to its fullest and enjoying all that college life brings. Get experience and credibility in the business world, then come back to M-Town and discuss budget issues. jmo

I talked to AJ several years ago at the Sorg Opera House after a community open forum with the candidates. He held a very informative, knowledgeable, intelligent conversation about the city's issues at that time. He listened intently as I told him about this town's past prosperity and followed with the decline of Armco, the paper mills and the general "flavor" the town use to offer. We discussed some town priorities and had a great exchange of ideas. I would imagine, that since those times, and his newly found experience on the Obama national front, he would be prepared to tackle the local scene. IMO, he appears to be ready for prime time. Let's give him a chance. All one has to do is realize what we have now and ask ourselves- could we do too much worse? Hey- like we have been saying, try new people/ideas/direction then purge if not the correct fit.