Bowling Green City Council will be left without a student representative.
Democrat Jacob Redfern, a junior, and Independent Rob Emmelhainz, a senior, both lost their city council campaigns for the 1st and 2nd Wards, respectively.
At press time, Redfern was defeated by Republican Mark Hollenbaugh 182-150, and Emmelhainz lost to Democrat John Zanfardino 449-256, according to the Wood County Board of Elections Web site.
Mike Zickar, chair of the Wood County Democrats, said absentee, early and provisional votes have not been counted for and could take up to 10 days to be finalized.
‘You got to hold on to hope,’ Redfern said. ‘At this point, I’m a long shot, but it’s not out of the question.’
Redfern said there are approximately 25 provisional votes still unaccounted in the 1st Ward. He also said there is an unknown amount of absentee and early votes, but the number is rumored to be less than 100.
Even though he lost, many respected Redfern’s campaign.
Whether it was making himself available to students through several University functions (such as Undergraduate Student Government meetings) or supporting the anti-discrimination housing ordinances, Redfern has accomplished a lot in his short time on city council, Zanfardino said.
Hollenbaugh also said he respects Redfern, both as a candidate and as a person.
‘He is a good kid and he ran for council because he really cared about what he was doing,’ Hollenbaugh said. ‘Whether I won or lost tonight, I know whoever was in that seat, it was going to be a positive thing.’
The BG News tried to reach Emmelhainz several times via telephone yesterday, but he did not answer.
In interviews earlier in the day, Emmelhainz said he would celebrate the night ‘in private’ with some friends.
The lack of students participating in the election was a main factor in the two losing, senior Jacob Smith said.
‘When it comes to voting in in elections, we don’t have the will, as students, to vote, which is sad,’ Smith said. ‘What we saw tonight was not necessarily the loss of a democrat to a republican, but rather a student to a resident.’
It is estimated less than 1 percent of the student body turned out to vote. The Union reported approximately 30 votes, which is where most students polling locations were on Election Day.
Joe Edens, USG senator for the College of Education and Human Development, said the bridge connecting the city and the University will not be as strong without a student on a council seat.
‘To have such low numbers from the student population is depressing,’ Edens said.
After knocking on every door in the 1st Ward, Redfern said he lost this election because students did not come out to the polls yesterday.
Redfern said the loss will not deter him from keeping a positive mind frame about his experience as a city leader.
‘I had a great time serving all the voters of the 1st Ward,’ he said. ‘I’m extremely proud of the campaign I ran.’
Editor’s note: City Editor Ella Fowler and reporter Josh Whetherholt contributed to this report.
