Two go head-to-head for council president

by Adam Townsend
For the Post

Candidates vying for Athens City Council president see different issues as being at the forefront of city concern.

Current City Treasurer Bill Bias, Democrat, and Republican Ellsworth Holden are running for the position.

Holden said one important issue for Athens involves city planning.

He said Council should develop a broad vision of the future on which everybody can generally agree, then hire a city planning firm to work toward that goal, rather than hiring a firm to develop the vision and the plans for obtaining it.

But, Bias said one important issue facing Athens in the upcoming term is protecting the city's water supply.

Because Athens' water comes from wells, Bias said he wants to be sure that no harmful chemicals from the development of a golf course northeast of Athens seep into the water table. Bias also said council must direct its attention to continuing city services, despite funding problems caused by the area's shrinking tax base.

Holden said he plans to use the position of council president to address the concerns of the community, rather than only presiding over council meetings. He said a council president can look at issues more broadly and without constraints,

"That's something that a council president could do, but, in the past, has never been done," Holden said.

Bias is focusing on his past experience as a council member and as treasurer to build on in the new position.

"I feel my experience and education can serve the city well with the challenges coming up before the city," he said.

Bias said he looks forward to acting as liaison between city administration and council. He also said he plans to re-examine the committee structure within council and train the new council members

The two candidates are competing for the space Democrat Guy Philips is vacating. He did not register for reelection this term because of family concerns, leaving the presidency open.

Philips, who has served as president since 1986, plans to leave public life in order to care better for his children.

"I've got a family and two children now, and I want to be there for them," Philips said.

Aside from his present candidacy, Holden served four terms in Third Ward Council from 1976 to 1983 and holds the county chair for the Republican Party. He is a retired Ohio University employee, treasurer of the nonprofit organization Rural Action and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Hocking College.

Bias is the current City Treasurer and has been involved in local politics for twelve years. He has served several terms on city council and is president and CEO of On-Call Medical Associates.

Both candidates are OU graduates. Bias has a Bachelors degree in political science and a Masters degree in health services administration. Holden, after receiving his Bachelors degree in physics, went on to Harvard to obtain his Masters in physics.

When asked why he decided to leave his position as treasurer and run for Council President, he said that he was satisfied with the changes he had made there and was looking forward to a change.

When asked why he was running, Holden answered, "It's our community (and) one can make a difference in one's community."