Austin Lucas, a senior studying political science, was elected to serve on the Village of Bethesda City Council on Nov. 3.
Every vote counts, but for Austin Lucas, an Ohio University senior studying political science, two votes did.
Lucas, 21, was elected to city council in Bethesda, Ohio, after winning by only two votes, according to Belmont County Board of Elections' General Elections Cumulative Results.
Lucas will serve a four-year term on city council in his hometown of Bethesda, a town of about 1,250 residents that lies 20 miles west of Wheeling, West Virginia.
"Due to health issues, I can’t be in the military, so this is the best way I could see to serve the country, becoming involved in politics," Lucas said.
Despite his term starting on Jan. 1 and an expected graduation in May 2016, Lucas said he is hoping to remain at OU for a little longer.
"I am wanting to get a master’s degree here, so I still plan throughout my four year term in (Bethesda) ... on being in school (in Athens)," Lucas said.
Although many students may consider Athens home during their undergraduate or graduate years here, Lucas said he does not share the same sentiment.
"I never changed my address," Lucas said. "Technically coming here is like someone going on a very long vacation or working away from home."
Lucas had to travel home frequently while campaigning on as little as $200, he said.
"As a college student, I didn’t have much money or time, so I didn’t really get out to finance very much," he said.
Lucas said he credits his name for helping him win the election though.
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"I have a very popular last name in the town. It’s an extremely popular last name," Lucas said. "Everybody knows my family."
The distance does pose the only complication Lucas foresees, he said.
"The only challenge I see coming up really is spur of the moment emergency meetings," Lucas said. "I told them normally if they give about three to four hour heads up that would most likely be doable."
Current Bethesda Councilman Brian Bee said distance is the only reservation he had with Lucas' election, as well.
"My only concern is he is two hours away," Bee said. "And I shared that with him."
Bee has served on city council in Bethesda for six or seven years he estimates, and he said he gave Lucas advice when they met before the election.
"I told him, 'Listen for a while,' " Bee said. "We all go in with different ideas and then we find out how government really works."
Bee, who has a son close to Lucas' age, said he is always excited for new council members.
"I think any time we can get new ideas, it's a good thing," Bee said.
Lucas said new ideas will be necessary with Bethesda currently operating with debt after replacing many of the city's hundred-year-old water lines.
"We've just got to be more careful with money," Lucas said. "Going into office, I'll have to consider what's really important for the town to have and what's not."
Bethesda Mayor Marty Lucas, who shares no relation with Austin Lucas, said he welcomed the town's newest city council member aboard, referring to Austin as "a very ambitious young fella."
Marty acknowledged that some people had made comments about his availability.
"Personally, I'm not really that apprehensive," Marty said. "Let's just see how it works out."
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