ASHLAND – Ashland city council member at-large Dan Lawson has announced his intent to run for his seat in 2019.
Lawson has served on city council since February 2018, when he was appointed by his fellow council members to replace Matt Miller, who became mayor last January. Lawson was chosen from a pool of 10 candidates for the appointment.Â
“Since that appointment, we have seen great achievements and are building significant momentum as a strong, active, and cooperative city council,” Lawson said in a press release. “It is for these reasons, and others, that I seek to continue serving as council member at-large.”
Lawson went on to write that he is deeply committed to Ashland and its people and that his desire is to build upon the energy the city council team has created. Through that energy, Lawson believes the city will see additional improvements in quality of life, employment opportunities and economic growth.
“Our current mayor and city council are strongly unified in our vision for Ashland,” Lawson said. “We have worked harmoniously on many projects that have made great improvements. It is my intention to complete those projects and continue moving forward.”
“We have had, and will continue to see, many public-private ventures that will enhance the City of Ashland. Together, with the involvement of our community, we will foster a strong reputation that will make Ashland a place where people want to visit and live.”
Lawson is Associate Vice President of Corporate Relations at Ashland University, where he has worked in various roles since 2003 and now builds relationships and develops partnerships between corporations and the university.
He also serves on the board of the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce and volunteers both with United Way of Ashland County and as a volunteer chaplain for the city’s police department.
As council member at-large, Lawson represents residents of the entire city rather than those of just one ward.Â
In order to have his name appear on the May 7, 2019 primary ballot, Lawson must file a petition with 92 signatures by Feb. 6. Lawson has taken out a petition but has not yet returned it, according to Ashland County Board of Elections director Kathy Howman.Â
So far, no one else has taken out a petition to run for the seat.Â
Other races on the 2019 primary ballot include city law director, city finance director and first ward city council member. All three incumbents– law director Richard Wolfe, finance director Larry Paxton and first ward council member Steve Workman– 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.Â
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.Â
