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Canterbury, Kraynanski Announce Candidacy For Athens City Council
< < Back toTwo more Athens residents have said they will run for an at-large Athens City Council seat in the May primary election.
On Friday, Athens County Engineer’s Office retiree Mike Canterbury and Athens Board of Zoning Appeals member Joan Kraynanski announced that they are vying for at-large Council seats.
Athens City Council is comprised of three at-large seats and four ward seats in addition to the Council president role.
Both Kraynanski and Canterbury will be running as Democrats.
According to a news release from Canterbury, he retired from the Athens County Engineer’s Department — where he served as deputy engineer — and he served in the US Army and National Guard for 10 years. Canterbury also served as the president of the former Southeast Ohio EMS and as the president of the Athens County Regional Planning Commission. He has served as a member of the Athens County Democratic Party Central and Executive Committees.
“I want to serve on the Athens City Council to follow in the footsteps of fine council members and mayors in helping keep Athens a great place to live. With my experience in planning, I can help to ensure that Athens has smart growth,” Canterbury wrote. “I want to continue the smart growth that Athens is engaged in and keep the city of Athens a safe and beautiful place to live in.” Canterbury has lived in the city of Athens for almost two years.
Kraynanski is a six-year member of the Athens Board of Zoning Appeals and an active participant in several Council ad hoc committees.
“I am a long time resident of Athens and have lived in a close-in neighborhood for over 20 years,” she wrote. “I worked and managed a small business in Athens, my children attended Athens City Schools and Ohio University, and I am now retired from Ohio University. For the past 12 years, I have been an active member of my neighborhood association.”
Kraynanski continued, “As a city legislator, I will ensure that the day-to-day operations of running the city are maintained in addition to being aware of how legislation fits into the bigger picture of what we as citizens want Athens to be in the coming years. The bigger picture, balancing traditional and historical with change and economic development, and maintaining comfortable residential neighborhoods, is essential for our city.”
Earlier this week, OU student Aaron Dauterman announced his candidacy for an at-large seat as well. Dauterman will be running as a Republican. All current elected officials in the city of Athens are Democrats.
The deadline to file for the May primary election is Feb. 4.