Robbins ousts Ritter in Dunkirk

Portland and Dunkirk both decided to go in a different direction.

Jay County’s mayors were ousted in Tuesday’s municipal election,

with John Boggs and Jack Robbins each earning 58 percent of the vote in their wins.

Boggs, a Republican, denied Democrat Randy Geesaman a third term as Portland’s mayor.

Robbins, a Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Gene Ritter to

continue a decades-long streak of Dunkirk mayors being limited to a single term.

Robbins, Ritter and other Dunkirk candidates had to wait a while for their results.

The city's tally was delayed for nearly an hour as election officials struggled with a balky voting machine that had a faulty card reader. Jay County clerk Jon Eads consulted with representatives of Microvote to resolve the problem and rescue 143 votes.

When the numbers were finally tabulated, they showed some symmetry. Robbins won both of Dunkirk’s precincts by 35 votes for his 264-194 victory.

Robbins, who is finishing his second term on city council, expressed gratitude to the voters.

“I’d like to thank the voters of Dunkirk who had faith in me,” he said. “I’d like to continue to work on what got me here.”

Robbins said that as mayor his focus will be on downtown development and the industrial park.

Ritter became the sixth consecutive mayor to be ousted after one term, following Robert Davenport, Tom Johnson, Sam Hubbard, Ron Hunt and Dan Watson. The last Dunkirk mayor to earn a second term was Grant Fager, who ran unopposed in 1991.

Ritter was philosophical in defeat.

“I guess I’ll have to wish Jack all the luck in the world,” he said. “I’m sorry I lost. I’d like to thank my supporters, and I’m sorry I let them down.”

While Ritter lost his seat as mayor, incumbent Dunkirk clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott held off two challengers to win re-election. Final tallies showed Elliott, a Democrat, with 202 votes, independent Kelly Watson with 144 and Republican Jay Miller with 111.

It marked Elliott’s first general election win, as she was appointed to the position following the 2015 race. Phonnie Kesler won re-election that year, but had already resigned three months prior.

Incumbent city council members also held their seats.

Democrat Tom Johnson (at-large) posted an overwhelming victory over Republican challenger Richard Buckner with more than 70 percent of the vote. Totals showed Johnson with 318 to Buckner’s 133.

Republican Jesse Bivens (District 3) also scored a solid win as he took 55 percent of the vote. He topped independent Tommy “Chip” Phillips 240-193.

Redkey voters also decided to keep their clerk-treasurer as Debbie James won re-election. She defeated independent challenger Myra Davis 94-63.

The town was guaranteed three new council members with none of the incumbents on the ballot in the at-large race. Doug Stanley and Ted Friddle had chosen not to seek another term, and Dave Dudelston lost in the Republican primary.

In a six-way race for three at-large seats, the voters decided to go with two Republicans and a Democrat. The GOP’s Gary Gardner led the field easily with 122 votes while Republican John Pierce and Democrat Erik Hammers each picked up 90 to also earn spots on council. Falling short in Tuesday’s election were Republican Pilot Bechtol (74) and Democrats “Watermellon” Jim Phillips (53) and Nathan Cole (23).