"Once you get your foot in small town politics, you almost have to die to get out."
That was a comment from Richville City Clerk Gil Ebner as he reviewed the ballot for the upcoming city election.
He made the comment with a chuckle, and didn't intend it to be as morbid as it might sound. Two of Richville's city fathers died over the past two years--which started something of a domino effect of appointments, resignations and replacements.
In a town of about 50 households and 123 residents--many of them elderly--it can be difficult to maintain a full council slate.
"You sort of start to run out of people," said Ebner.
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Mayor Merle Myers died about two years into a four year term, and Terry Lee was appointed to the post. Danny Woody resigned from his city council post a year ago, creating a vacancy. And last February, longtime Councilman Henry Buchholz passed away. "It was confusing," said Ebner. "We had to write everything down to try to keep track."
The end result is a full ballot for the 2006 Richville election. Three council seats are on the ballot, the treasurer and the mayor will all be on the ballot.
"I'm the only one that isn't on the city ballot... But actually, I will be on the ballot because I'm up for election on the hospital district board," laughed city clerk Ebner.
Fortunately, a candidate filed for each of the Richville positions. This isn't always the case in the smallest cities, where elected posts are sometimes filled by an unsuspecting soul who is "forced" into office by conspiring neighbors who covertly launch write-in campaigns.
In Richville's case, it is also fortunate that there are five declared candidates for five positions because it makes voting much less complicated.
As it stands, the ballot Nov. 7 voters in Richville will have includes:
- Terry Lee for mayor, who was "promoted" from city council to the mayor's seat after Merle Myers died.
- City Council member Carlys Quiram, who had been appointed to fill the seat vacated by Terry Lee.
- Erwin Post and Rick Sazama will be on the ballot for two council seats. Both were appointed after Danny Woody resigned and Henry Bucholz died.
- For treasurer, it will be Elsie Smith, who is running unopposed for her position.
Richville's city government is structured as a mayor, three council members and an elected clerk--who are all voting members. The treasurer is also elected, but is not a voting member.
