Amherst News-Times, 2001-11-14

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Wednesday, November 14, 2001
Amherst, Ohio
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Brusky, 20, upsets at-large CC rac
N
by ERIK YORKE
News-Times reporter
A few close races and one major
upset resulted from Amherst city
elections last Tuesday. Just over one
percentage point decided the city's
auditor race, and 20-year-old Republican Nick Brusky won one of
three city council-at-large seats, unseating Democratic incumbent David T. Williams.
Brusky, who ran unsuccessfully
two years ago for the fourth ward
council seat, said that he put a lot of
work into his campaign this year.
"I was happy to get out and talk
to a lot of people," Brusky said. He
also added that many Amherst residents volunteered to help him campaign, something he said shows that
the people of Amherst agree with
his position on issues.
Despite his desire to win, Brusky
said he was still a little surprised,
especially that he came in second in
the voting. Brusky finished second
with 1,569 votes, just edging out incumbent democrat Nancy Brown
with 1,563 votes.
"Apparently my hard work paid
off," Brusky said. He added that he
plans to remain accessible to all
Amherst residents and said that they
can call him any time.
"To dmse that voted for me and
those that didn't vote for me, I look
forward to working with you," Brusky said.
In the closest city race, the incumbent city auditor, Diane Eswine,
just managed to stave off her chal-
CONTINUED from page 10
Nick Brusky
While his parents were casting the real votes, future voter Jason
Moore is learning how to pick his favorite candidates with the help
of Terry Douglass. Jason's options for this year's decision were
Bamie, Barbie, Mr. Magoo, and Mickey Mouse. Jason was not the
only young voter that Douglass was teaching during the hectic day.
Highway to heaven
A large congregation of motorcyclists ride from the Hempel Funeral Home up Cleveland Avenue as part of the funeral procession
for Teddy Joe Massey. The procession took place last Thursday in
honor of Massey, a motorcycle enthusiast himself, who died Nov. 3
at the age of 45 in a motorcycle accident.
Leoni ousted
in township's
trustees race
One familiar face and one new face will fill trustee offices
in Amherst Township following a very close election. Incumbent Dennis Abraham and challenger Neil Lynch garnered the
most votes causing incumbent Ronald Leoni to be unseated.
After a campaign that saw Leoni and Lynch implore the
voters of Amherst Township to elect them in tandem, the
results came as a surprise to challenger Lynch.
"I think we actually did pretty good," Lynch said of his
campaign. "I just wish the results might have been a litde
different."
Lynch added that he does not foresee having any problems
working with Abraham, despite his alignment with Leoni during the campaign.
"I'm looking forward now to serving the residents," Lynch
said.
Abraham, who has been an Amherst Township trustee for
12 years, said that he feels he ran a very good campaign.
"I would define it as a very tough campaign and an effective campaign," Abraham said "I deeply appreciate (the voters) supporting and standing by me at this time."
Abraham said he shares Lynch's desire to end any animosity between township trustees.
"I look forward to it with optimism and renewed hope,"
Abraham said.
CONTINUED on page 10
Balog to take over job
as MLS resource cop
by ERIK YORKE
News-Times reporter
After 26 years, police officer John Balog is going
back to high school.
Where he ouu- walked the
halls between classes, Balog
now patrols the halls in an
effort to help achooi students
and keep them safe.
Balog is the new school resource officer for the Amherst
school district, taking the position over from officer Lee
Carrender. who left the Amherst Police Department The
school resource officer has
many dudes, including crime
prevention and drug awareness
education through the Drug
Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE) program.
An Amherst police officer
for 18 years. Balog said that
he had never considered be-
coming the school resource
officer. However, after Car-
render rerigeed to take a position _■ Avon Lnka. Baku
said that police chief Lonnie
Dillon asked him if he was
interested.
"I'd never really given it
any thought," Balog said. "I
really enjoyed working the
road. It was a somewhat difficult decision."
According to Balog, one
thing he considered was the
schedule. As a patrol officer,
be would often have to work
nights and weekends. Now,
however, he works a regular
Monday through Friday schedule, something he said both
he and his wife of 12 years,
Ellen, appreciate. With most
weekends free now, ho said
he has more time to spend
with Ellen and his 23-year-old
stepdaughter, Heatner.
"I've been very fortunate."
Batog said. "I've got a great
wife and great daughter. Life
has been good to me in those
respects."
He said it has been a big
adjustment, though. After
yean of taking complatnte involving javecui-*, Balog said
he is now interacting with
them one on one. He added
that he encourages the students to come to him with
their problems.
"I'm trying to push them
in the right direction," Balog
said. "I don't want them to
get on the wrong side of the
law."
He has ran into some students, he said, that he dealt
with as a police officer prior
to becoming the school resource officer. Balog said that
it is important for those students to know that be is on
their side.
"I want to work with them
and make them understand
that the police is not their
enemy," he said.
An aspect of bis new position that he finds particularly
interesting, he said is the Explorers. The Explorers are affiliated with the Boy Scouts
of America and is oompriaed
of young people ajed 14 to
Near and hope* to make 11
the tvee of students In Amherat.
i
AjT_w«tpolceoflioerJohn Batog shows oil
Ma mw ride In front of Morton L Steele rtgh
School. Batog It tho now achooi resource of-