Chillicothe voters spoke overwhelmingly for change in city government Tuesday.
Four incumbents and the city's red light and speed cameras were ousted in unofficial vote totals posted Tuesday.
Council members Cindy Henderson, R-At Large, and #">Bill Bonner
, D-5th Ward, along with Council President Bob Shoultz and City Auditor Bill Morrissey all lost re-election after opposition to red-light cameras brought high turnout at the polls.
By the time polls closed, 72 percent of voters cast ballots against the photo enforcement cameras, and most elected officials agreed the red-light issue worked against them.
"I don't think it was really about council and how we do business," Shoultz said. "I think it had more to do with red-light cameras and landlord issues."
Shoultz, a #">Republican
, lost his Council President seat to downtown businessman Bruce Arnold, who has been outspoken against the cameras and even filed a lawsuit against the city alleging they were unlawful.
On the surface, it appears the red-light camera issue brought out the voters. Turnout was at 46 percent Tuesday. In comparison, in 2007 -- the last council election -- turnout was 40 percent and, in 2005, it was 44 percent.
Henderson, who serves as chair of the # - Finance Committee agreed, though she pledged to work hard in the past two months of her term as her committee develops the 2010 budget for the city.
"You know I can see that the red-light cameras probably played a big part in it," Henderson said. "I'm not going away yet. I'm still going to work hard."
Most of those voters were overwhelming against the cameras.
"I don't think they're fair," said Jennifer Young, a resident of the 4th Ward. "That's the main reason I came out to vote today --to get rid of the cameras."
Bill Lewis, who lives in the 6th Ward, voted against the red-light cameras and also for Arnold.
"I say let's give someone else a try," Lewis said. "I think Bruce Arnold will do well, and I think it's time for a change."
Members of Citizens Against Photo Enforcement, who put the red light camera issue on the ballot, said they were encouraged by the results of the election.
Rebekah Valentich, who failed to beat incumbent Republican Nancy Ames in the 2nd Ward race, said she was excited by the results of other challengers.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic even though I didn't win," Valentich said. "I'm very excited about the changes I'm going to see. I'm just thrilled."
As for the red-light cameras, it's unclear what will happen now that the voters have told the city they want them out. The city continues to argue the wording of the ballot initiative is unconstitutional and plan to take the issue back to court. Valentich said CAPE will continue to put the pressure on council to remove the cameras.
"We have no plans to back down now," said. "We plan to continue our fight."