Retrospect: Jay voters chose change

Twenty-five years ago this week, Jay County voters opted for school change.

In the 1992 primary election, Louis Schoenlein, John B. Goodrich and Thomas B. Johnson all earned seats as new members of Jay School Board, with two of them ousting incumbents.

Schoenlein scored the biggest victory, knocking off incumbent Ned Rees 2,718-1,541.

Goodrich needed only 31 percent of the vote to win the race in a District 6 field that included six candidates. He picked up 1,292 votes to finish ahead of Betty J. Lyons (1,151), incumbent Richard W. Davidson (1,094) and three others.

Johnson defeated James Phillips 2,413-1,466 in District 4, though Phillips had already said he would not accept the position if elected because it would conflict with his seat on Redkey Town Council. Incumbent John Crosbie was unable to seek re-election because his home had been annexed into the City of Dunkirk, removing him from residence in the district.

Goodrich and Schoenlein felt their victories sent a message.

“I think there was a lot of dissatisfaction with the present board and its actions,” Goodrich said. “… When you figure out and add up the votes I got and the votes Betty (Lyons) got, there was a tremendous margin over the incumbent.”

In other local races, Jay County Republicans nominated Gene Stigleman over J.F. Littler for the south district Jay County Commissioner seat. Republican George Meehan and Democrat Mark Barnett won nominations for county coroner.

On the GOP side, local voters supported George H.W. Bush over Pat Buchanan for president and Linley E. Pearson for governor. Democrats favored Bill Clinton for president over Jerry Brown, Paul Tsongas and Bob Kerrey.