Warren, Gaither, Painter get the voters' OK in Oakwood Village

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by Emily Canning-Dean
Reporter
Oakwood " Residents will see a new face on Council next year as well as a familiar
one and one from the past.
According to final but unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections,
Johnnie Warren and Elaine Gaither were victorious in winning Council seats Nov. 6. Warren received the most votes for Council-at-large with 39 percent of the vote, while Gaither had 30.3 percent, Joe Fouche had 18.8 percent and Benjamin Sizemore had 11.9 percent.
Fouche is finishing a four-year term as Council-at-large. Warren is a previous Council President who gave up his position four years ago to run for mayor.
Because Warren received the most votes, he will be Council president.
"I am eager to get started and pick up where Council left off," Warren said. "It appears that Oakwood residents still have the confidence in me to do the job of Council
president."
Warren said one of the biggest issues the village faces is planning future development.
At the same time, Warren said, the village needs to work to fill vacant retail space.
"I think there are enough people in the village that we need a grocery store and a bank," he said.
"I am pleased and honored by the vote of confidence from our residents," Gaither said.
Fouche and Sizemore did not return calls for comment.
In Ward 1, incumbent Harry Painter defeated Harold Kimball, taking 68.2 percent
of the vote.
Painter could not be reached at press time.
Kimball congratulated Painter and said he was glad he threw his hat in the ring.
"I wish Mr. Painter well on his return to Council," he said. "I enjoyed the challenge of the election."
E-mail:ecanning@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3166
Oakwood Council
Vote count
At-Large
(2 winners)
Johnnie Warren .........................................422
Elaine Gaither ...........................................326
Joe Fouche Jr. ..........................................................210
Benjamin Sizemore .................................................131
Ward 1
Harold Kimball ..........................................................69
Harry Painter ...........................................148

Data courtesy Cuyahoga County Board of Elections