ASHLAND – City council president Steve Workman announced Monday he intends to run in the 2019 election to keep his seat as representative of Ashland’s first ward.
Workman has served on the council since January 2017, when he was chosen from a pool of eight candidates to replace Duane Fishpaw, who became mayor. Workman has been council president since January 2018.
In a press release announcing his candidacy, Workman said he has seen a renewed spirit of unity and cooperation in the city.
“I believe the accomplishments of 2018 are the result of what can be done when people share a vision for the direction of Ashland,” he said. “This is only a fraction of what can be achieved in the years ahead.”
If elected, Workman said he will work to continue the momentum of positive improvement in Ashland.
Workman is employed as a payroll specialist with Wenco Wendy’s Franchises and has spent his career in banking and finance. He holds a degree in Advanced Finance from the Institute of Financial Education in Chicago and completed a Business Development Program at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University.
In addition to his service on council, Workman serves on the Ashland County Planning Commission and the Ashland Community Improvement Corporation. He is also vice-chair of Appleseed Community Mental Health Board.
In order to have his name appear on the May 7, 2019 primary ballot, Workman must file a petition with signatures of 27 first ward residents by Feb. 6.
Ashland’s first ward is on the south side of the city, encompassing most neighborhoods south of College Avenue, east of Claremont Avenue and west of Center Street as well as the Center Lane Drive neighborhood.
So far, no one else has taken out a petition to run for the seat, according to Ashland County Board of Elections director Kathy Howman.
Other races on the 2019 primary ballot include city law director, city finance director and city council member at-large. All three incumbents– law director Richard Wolfe, finance director Larry Paxton and at-large council member Dan Lawson– had taken out petitions but had not yet filed as of Monday, Howman said. No other candidates had taken out petitions as of Jan. 7.
The races are non-partisan, so if the primary races are contested, the top two vote-getters in the May 7 primary will move on to the general election Nov. 5. New terms will begin in January 2020.
