By A.K. Dugan, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 12:00 am
The final tally of city candidates on the November ballot is two for mayor, three for city council in Ward 1 and one each for city council in Wards 2 and 3. The filing deadline was 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15.
Incumbent Mayor Ken Toombs is being challenged by Mel Harrington. Harrington represented Ward 2 on the city council from 2001 through 2005. He was defeated by the current incumbent, Rebecca Grizzle, in November 2004, and by Floyd Fisher in November 2006 for the other Ward 2 position.
He also served two years on the Lebanon Planning Commission.
Ray Weldon, the incumbent for the Ward 1 position, will face Aaron Falotico and James E. Beck on the ballot.
Falotico is a member of the Lebanon Planning Commission.
Beck, who is Weldon's son-in-law, has no previous experience on the City Council, the Planning Commission or city advisory groups. He was a candidate in 2006 for the second Ward I council position, but was defeated by Tim Fox.
Earlier in the summer Beck attempted to run for mayor, but was turned down by the city because Weldon is his father-in-law. According to the City Charter, city employees and immediate family members of city employees and elected city officials are not eligible to run. Immediate family members are defined as spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, son or daughter, whether by blood, marriage or adoption.
Beck is allowed to face off with Weldon because only one of them can win.
Beck could not be reached for comment. Asked for his thoughts on his son-in-law running for his council seat, Weldon said, "That's up to him to do whatever he wants to do."
Beck, Weldon, Mel Harrington and his wife Shirlee Harrington are plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the charter restriction on family members running for and serving on the council together.