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BELPRE -- Four candidates are running for the office of mayor of Belpre.
Mayoral candidates are current council member Floyd Alan Millhone, James Nelson, current council member Susan Abdella and Romel Henderson. Mayor Michael Lorentz is not seeking re-election, although he is running for a seat on Belpre City Council.
Millhone said he is a lifelong Republican and is running as an independent Republican because he "feel as an independent I can represent everyone."
A previous member of council in 1984, Millhone is a graduate of Belpre High School and Franklin University in Columbus. A home builder and remodeler, he was Washington County Home Builders Association president, a Wood County Habitat for Humanity board member and president and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.
If elected, Millhone said he will do his best to meet with citizens and listen to their ideas and concerns. He believes the mayor's salary package at $80,000 is too high for a city of less than 8,000 residents. As current First Ward Councilman, he has not taken any pay as his way of giving back. He will take half pay if elected mayor and give half to deserving places in Belpre.
Nelson, 68, is a graduate of Belpre High School and Ohio State University. He is running for mayor as an independent candidate. He is a substitute teacher and soccer coach at Belpre High School. He hasn't held public office before but has always been interested in politics.
"Under the leadership of the present mayor, the economic growth of Belpre has truly skyrocketed. I like the direction Belpre is going and, if elected mayor, I'm excited to be a part of it moving forward," Nelson said. "I am retired from Bank of America and believe my finance background helps with this economic direction. Belpre is in a good position financially, but we need to be sure we are making the most of this money by being good stewards."
Marietta Memorial is building a hospital in Belpre which will create 200 permanent jobs. With this hospital could come a hotel, new restaurants and other satellite businesses, he said.
"The strength and direction in which Belpre is going could become its weakness, as well. The growth will raise concerns about Belpre's infrastructure. The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress in 2022 has given Ohio over $5 billion. As mayor of Belpre I will show the governor and state legislature why a portion of that needs to come to Belpre for future improvements," he said. "At 68, I myself am a senior citizen. I see and hear the concerns of our senior citizens. As a substitute school teacher and sports coach, I see and hear the concerns of the younger citizens. As mayor I will listen to the concerns of all citizens of Belpre and continue to guide this place we hold so special. Working with Belpre's residents as their mayor to benefit the city will be a privilege."
Abdella, 61, is a Republican and retired from the healthcare industry. She is an at -arge council member and also served on council from 2008-2017.
Abdella said her background is in business, finance, health and safety. That experience will help her lead Belpre during a time of exciting opportunities.
"It is important that we blend the growth that is happening in our community and within the region into our community in a way that maintains the quality of life and the sense of family that we all share. If elected, I intend to work with our department leaders to develop a plan that defines and timelines the infrastructure needs of the community," she said. "I would like to work toward operational efficiencies that allow our departments to be proactive verses reactive. I believe that we need to reactivate that Recreation Commission so that the working plan for the parks can be developed and the changing needs of the community can be discussed, designed and incorporated into our beautiful park system."
Abdella believes people are the main strength of Belpre, both the citizens and the employees and the pride they take in the city. The city's riverfront is a gem that only becomes more valuable to the community as it grows and expands it as a destination for many local families and as a tourism hub within the county, she said.
"In my opinion, a weakness of this community is we are limited by our boundaries for major expansion. However we can work to overcome our boundaries by regional partnerships to provide services when there is benefit to our citizens. The other is the development occurring in flood plain areas. This needs creativity to make these areas a positive and a value to the community," Abdella said.
Henderson, listed as a Democrat by the Washington County Board of Elections, did not return a questionnaire regarding the mayoral race in time for publication but did speak at a Meet the Candidates event in Belpre.
"Belpre needs to help seniors and youth as well as more businesses. We need to have a positive impact on the community and we need to use grant money instead of people's money," he said during that event.
"The biggest problem is the mayor and council working together," said Henderson. "As well as creating activities for the kids … every city around us has developed a city pool for their community."