Voters in the city of Bellefontaine will have the chance to weigh in during Tuesday’s General Election, Nov. 7, to select their next mayor between two candidates, each of whom is hoping to make the foray into city leadership.
Republican nominee Dave Crissman, a retired Bellefontaine firefighter/paramedic, and Democratic candidate Tim Steinhelfer, a local domestic relations attorney, are both Bellefontaine High School graduates and are active in the community in a variety of ways.
Stieinhelfer also graduated from Tulane University and The Chicago-Kent College of Law. He has argued constitutional law issues before the Supreme Court of Ohio and family law matters in the Ohio Court of Appeals. During 2021, he founded his own domestic relations law firm in downtown Bellefontaine.
“I’m driven by a vision of a thriving Bellefontaine for future generations,” he said of his decision to run for mayor.
“When I graduated from Bellefontaine High School, many of my peers aspired to leave for college and never return.
“My goal is to transform our town into one that our youth are proud to call home and wish to return to after college or travels. While diving deep into municipal laws may not be glamorous, Bellefontaine needs a dedicated mayor who’s willing to engage with these complexities. I believe I’m that person.”
Crissman, who served with the Bellefontaine Fire Department from 1991 to 2022, related that during that time, he served under five different mayors and had the chance to observe the differences in leadership and management styles. He also said he was urged by his fellow colleagues just a few years ago to consider his own run for mayor.
“After serving the community for more than 30 years as a firefighter/paramedic, I want to serve you in a different capacity,” he said via his Facebook page when announcing his candidacy earlier this year. “I’m looking forward to this change in my life and I will need your help.”
In the spring ahead of the May primary election and throughout this fall, Crissman and his wife of over 41 years, Marcia, a fellow Bellefontaine High School graduate, were busy hitting up the many streets of Bellefontaine together to meet with residents for the campaign.
“It’s a nice town that we’re very proud of and I want to keep it that way,” said Crissman, who also was the owner-operator of his own bathtub refinishing repair business for over 30 years. “The door-to-door visits have been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work.
“I’ve had the chance to meet a number of people who are supporting me, some of whom are Democrats. Some of the individuals said they had already voted for me through early voting as well.
“I would encourage everyone to get out and vote and to vote their conscience for the candidate they think will be the best mayor.”
His mayoral opponent also related that the campaigning has been going well, even in an area that has traditionally been a Republican stronghold.
“Some people think Saint Peter couldn’t get elected as a Democrat in Logan County, but my interactions with our residents give me growing optimism each day,” Steinhelfer said.
“The campaign has been energizing. Our door-to-door efforts receive overwhelming support, and we’ve garnered over 75 donations, predominantly from local residents. This speaks volumes about our grassroots movement. There’s a palpable sense among voters that it’s time for a generational shift in perspective in our city leadership.”
Steinhelfer, who serves on the executive board of the Extending the Branch charity and is an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, where he sings baritone in the choir, also detailed some of his priority areas that he would like to address as mayor.
“While our downtown flourishes, our neighborhoods need attention. Our current zoning code, grounded in outdated 1950s concepts, often leads to residents feeling isolated.
“We need a community where citizens can easily walk to a nearby park, deli or cafe. I’ve crafted detailed plans centered around ‘form-based coding’ to rejuvenate our neighborhoods, leading to more housing options and lower rents.
“Furthermore, I’m focused on attracting young, tech-savvy professionals to Bellefontaine by simplifying bureaucracy and introducing public fiberoptic Internet, promising substantial savings for our residents.”
Crissman has served as president of the school board for Calvary Christian School, and is an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, where he has served as deacon. During his career as a firefighter/paramedic, some of his observations and concerns have led to his areas of focus as mayor.
“I’d like to improve relationships between the city administration, department heads and employees,” he said.
“In addition, I’d like to improve the relationships between the city and county; right now, it feels territorial. The city can learn a lot from the county and vice versa. The city can also learn a lot from its residents. We need to get rid of the fighting and move forward.”
In his remarks, Steinhelfer also noted his disappointment that a mayoral candidate debate did not take place for this election, where the two opponents could have provided their responses to questions in a public setting.
“I was truly anticipating a mayoral debate, as has been customary for contested races. The absence of one, especially without media coverage, was unexpected.
“The campaign has certainly been eventful — for instance, a recent incident where I was mauled by a pit bull while canvassing. The swift response from two Bellefontaine High School juniors who were with me not only ensured my safety but also reaffirmed my belief in the promise of our younger generation.”