Muterspaw collected the most votes of the five candidates. He received 3,330, followed by Ferrell (2,212), Vice Mayor Joe Mulligan (1,953), Jennifer Carter (1,012) and Julia Lewis-Smith (798).
When Muterspaw and Ferrell are sworn-in in January, the five-person council will have 10 years of total experience. Tal Moon has served six years and Mayor Nicole Condrey and Monica Nenni have served two years.
Since Mulligan wasn’t re-elected for his third term, next year will be the first time since 2006 no member of the Mulligan family has served on city council. Mulligan’s brother, Larry, was appointed to council in December 2006 to fill a vacancy and he served 12 years on council, including 11 years as mayor.
Joe Mulligan was elected to council in 2011 and 2017.
Ami Vitori, who served one term on council, didn’t seek re-election so she could concentrate on her downtown businesses and family, she said.
Muterspaw, 52, and Ferrell, 29, said they aren’t concerned about their lack of experience in the political arena.
After 30 years with the Middletown Division of Police, including five as chief, Muterspaw said he dealt with politics every day on the job.
When a council member asked Muterspaw about potentially serving as a first-time member, he told them: “My experience trumps anything you’re doing on council.”
Ferrell, a Realtor for Keller Williams for more than eight years, said political experience doesn’t guarantee success.
“Someone with 30 plus years doesn’t mean they’re getting things done,” he said. “I’m young. I’m hungry. I will bust my tail for it. Hard work trumps experience. New blood brings energy.”
Hollywoodland, the proposed $1.3 billion entertainment and destination venue near the Great Miami River and historic downtown, won’t be supported by the newest council members, they said. Council hasn’t voted on the proposal that includes $7.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and it’s unclear whether a vote will be taken before January.
Ferrell said he’s bothered by the track record of the developers, The proposed developers of the project, Main Street Community Capital, and is against giving them millions of dollars early in the development process.
“That’s a bad deal for the city,” Ferrell said. “We can’t take that type of risk. We need singles and doubles and every dollar should be spent rebuilding the city.”
Muterspaw believes council needs to follow the lead of Middletown residents and most of them are against the plan, he said.
“I don’t see the benefit of it,” he said.
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