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OU Student To Run For Nelsonville Council
< < Back to ou-student-run-nelsonville-councilAn Ohio University student says he will run for Nelsonville City Council next year.
Taylor Sappington, 23, says he is currently circulating petitions and plans to run for an at-large seat in the November 2015 election.
Sappington says he grew up in the Nelsonville-York School District near the former Poston Elementary and graduated from Nelsonville-York High School in 2010. He has lived in the city limits for approximately a year.
According to Sappington, he will graduate from OU this spring with a degree in political science. He is currently employed at Texas Roadhouse in Athens.
Sappington said there has been a lot of cynicism regarding Nelsonville and its future since the bypass opened, but said he feels the opposite.
“I believe in Nelsonville. I’m an optimist. It’s going to take hard work and strong advocates for the area to make tomorrow better,” he said.
Sappington said that despite what people think, there are young people in the city that are involved in their community, including him. “I’m excited for what the future holds,” he said.
Nelsonville City Council is comprised of seven at-large members who run on a nonpartisan ballot. Three seats — currently occupied by Bill Hoag, Eddie VanBibber and Greg Smith — will expire on Nov. 30, 2015.
On Thursday, VanBibber told The Messenger he was unsure if he will seek re-election next year.
The Messenger also contacted Hoag on Thursday, however he refused to comment over the phone.
Smith could not be reached for comment before Thursday’s news deadline.