Waldo retains seat, Blankenship and O’Leary win other two

Published 1:24 am Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Ironton City Council will have one member retaining has seat and two returning members who served in the past.

Kevin Waldo, assistant Lawrence County prosecuting attorney, will remain in his council seat after receiving 1,819 votes for 23.97 percent. Current Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship received 1,515 votes for 19.96 percent and Chuck O’Leary, assistant director of the Briggs Lawrence County Library and manager of the Ironton branch, received 1,124 votes for 14.81 percent.

“It’s obviously a different situation than running for mayor, but I’m honored that the citizens of Ironton would elect me to city council,” Blankenship said. “I feel like, in the past eight years, we’ve really accomplished a lot of good things in the city and I want to work with whoever the new mayor will be and the other council members to keep moving forward.”

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Blankenship, who served on council from 2005 to 2007 when he was elected mayor, said there are a lot of challenges that still face the city, but he is looking forward to being a part of it.

O’Leary, who also previously served on city council, said he wants to see more light industry and commercial opportunities brought into the city and is hoping to make a difference on city council.

“It was always my intention, win, lose or draw, to start a committee to work with the new mayor for recruitment of bringing light industry and commercial businesses to Ironton,” O’Leary said. “I’d like to have this generation leave a legacy for the kids coming up. We are losing our best and brightest to other places with better opportunities.”

A call to Waldo was not returned by presstime.