Crouch files for Dunkirk mayor

DUNKIRK — Regardless of party, the city’s voters will have a choice in May.

Republican Tom Crouch filed Monday to run for mayor of Dunkirk, giving the city two candidates in each of the major parties less than a week into the filing period.

Incumbent Democrat Dunkirk clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott also filed Monday for another term in her position. She had previously told The Commercial Review that she planned to run.

Crouch, who had a career in manufacturing management, will challenge incumbent Gene Ritter for the GOP nomination for mayor. Ritter is in the final year of his first term in office after defeating incumbent Democrat Dan Watson in the 2015 general election.

Two Democrats — city council member Jack Robbins and retired Ardagh employee Sandy Rollins — filed to seek their party’s nomination on the opening day of filing Wednesday.

Dunkirk has not re-elected a mayor to a second term since Republican Grant Fager was unopposed in 1991.

Crouch, 68, said he began thinking about running after being approached about the possibility by local residents.

“I think we need a change in Dunkirk,” he said. “I want to bring in a hometown boy that’s been here all his life and try something different.”

Crouch is a 1969 graduate of Dunkirk High School who worked in manufacturing management at Sheller-Globe in Portland, Lear Corporation in Berne and Sonoco in Portland, among others, over the course of a 40-year career. 

He also worked at Smith Brothers in Berne following his retirement from manufacturing management, and now works part-time for Meijer in Muncie.

He also coached youth sports for 15 years and spent 29 years as an athletics official.

He said he feels his experience in management, officiating and coaching would be assets in leading the city.

“The main thing is just see what I can do to make Dunkirk good again,” said Crouch. “No promises. I just want to get in and work my butt off and see what I can do to make things better.”

Elliott’s filing created the only other contested primary race at this point in the process. She is facing a challenge from Kelly Watson for the Democrat nomination for Dunkirk clerk-treasurer.

Local Democrats named Elliott to the position when Phonnie Kesler resigned soon after winning the 2015 general election. Kesler had given up the position three months earlier but at that point it was too late to remove her name from the ballot.

Other Democrats who have filed thus far are: Bart Darby (for mayor of Portland), incumbent Portland clerk-treasurer Lori Aker Ferguson, incumbent Portland City Council member Judy Hedges and incumbent Redkey clerk-treasurer Debbie James.

Republicans who have filed thus far are: John Boggs (for mayor of Portland), incumbent Portland City Court Judge Donald Gillespie, Steven McIntosh (for Portland City Council District 3) and incumbent Portland City Council members Don Gillespie, Kent McClung and Janet Powers.

Filing continues through Feb. 8. The primary election will be May 7.