Athens City Council members have often said Kent Butler, the youngest on council at 44 years old, reminds them of a younger generation.
But if Aaron Dauterman, a junior at Ohio University studying communication studies, succeeds in his endeavor to hold a city position — he would take Butler’s place as the youngest member of council, and become the sole Republican serving on the legislative body.
Dauterman said he officially announced he would be running for an at-large seat on city council on his personal Facebook page some time last week.
“I am currently circulating my petition, which requires 50 signatures from registered Republicans in the city,” Dauterman said.
A transfer from Marietta College, Dauterman came to OU his sophomore year and became active in the political landscape.
“This is my third year in Southeast Ohio,” Dauterman said, “and I’ve been getting a feel for the political landscape.”
Dauterman worked for Republican Yolan Dennis’ campaign to represent the state’s 94th district in November’s election, and spent many hours making calls in the Republican call center, he said.
He also spent time watching weekly council meetings and the mayor’s Wednesday press conferences on the city’s government channel.
“It really shined a new spot light on issues and aspects that could be handled a little differently,” Dauterman said.
According to Clerk of Council Debbie Walker, if elected, Dauterman would not be the first OU student to serve on city council.
“I wouldn’t say it’s unusual (for students to run),” Walker said, “it’s just currently less usual.”
Walker said Rex Scott was the first OU student to be seated on council in 1988. After that, three students followed — including Pat Lang, who began serving on council in 1998 and is currently the city’s law director.
With the exception of Scott, all of the student council members were Democratic candidates.
According to city documents, there hasn’t be a Republican sitting on council since 2003.
“My strategy for this election is to not only focus on a grassroots plan to increase voter turnout, but to also show the people of Athens that one can be a member of the Republican Party, and still government with an environmentally sustainable agenda,” Dauterman said.
He said that he’s not too worried about Athens’ tendency to vote for Democrats.
“I think that we need to have a sense of balance while governing,” Dauterman said, “and that's what I intend to do.”
@emilybohatch
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