Three Democrats, a Republican and an Independent are running for three at-large city council positions in this Tuesday's general election.
Unlike all of the uncontested races happening in the general election on Tuesday, two at-large candidates will walk away without a seat on Athens City Council.
The Democrats have Councilwoman Jennifer Cochran, D-At Large, Peter Kotses and Joan Kraynanski as at-large city council hopefuls. The Republicans are pulling for Aaron Dauterman, an Ohio University student, and running as an independent, Pat McGee hopes to be the first independent elected to city council in at least 20 years.
Dauterman, a senior studying communication studies and the only Republican council candidate, said balancing student responsibilities and a campaign has been somewhat of a juggling act.
"But most of the activities go hand-in-hand," Dauterman said. "Going to class, talking to students – it's all part of campaigning."
Pete Couladis, chair of the Athens County Republican Party, said students have just as much a right to run for city council as any other citizen does, and in the past, more OU students have run for council.
"Students kind of overwhelm the population here," Couladis said.
But Dauterman will face a challenge, Couladis said, with the amount of registered voters being against any Republican running for office in Athens.
The last Republican to be elected and serve on city council was Edward Baum, who lost his seat in the November 2003 election. Since 2004, city council has only had Democrats.
One Democrat seeking a spot on city council is Kraynanski, who declined to comment and instead pointed The Post to a post made to her Facebook page Sunday morning, in which she said she is committed to preserving Athens' neighborhoods.
"I have met with many people who agree that this city needs to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to planning," Kraynanski said in the post.
Kraynanski added that Athens needs sites for new start-up businesses, expanded housing options for new residents and senior citizens and infrastructure improvement in keeping with an environmental-friendly community.
Cochran is the only sitting council member running in the general election.
Having been a member of city council since 2012, she said she hopes voters will take her experience into account.
"I am looking forward to working with new people," Cochran said. "It's always good to be continually refreshing city council and have people of different viewpoints."
Cochran said making Athens a bicycle-friendly city has been one of her favorite accomplishments as a city council member along with helping the city move forward in becoming more energy efficient.
Projects she would like to work on next include securing a permanent position for the Athens Farmers Market, completing the city pool project and continuing the work already done on the city's infrastructure.
Kotses said in an email he has learned much from his conversations with both citizens and city employees.
"I've also learned that I can do the job," Kotses said in an email. "If I don't win on Tuesday I'll still be involved by volunteering my time to help offer input on things I feel are important."
Kotses said he does not have a specific project in mind for Athens as a city council member, but he said he will learn more once elected.
"Plus, if elected, I will only be one of six other votes," Kotses said. "I need to see what is currently in the works and how my perspective might help."
One other candidate, McGee is still reveling in the Halloween weekend, he said.
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"What a wonderful place Athens is after a wonderful Halloween weekend we had with all the creative energy that went into it," McGee said.
In regard to politics, McGee said he is hoping students and voters look beyond a candidate's party affiliation.
"I know a lot of democrats support me," McGee said. "I'm hoping the democrat students will look beyond labels."
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