Ottawa incumbents keep city seats

Voters apparently think the Ottawa City Commission must be doing something right.

Considering all three incumbent candidates were re-elected Tuesday, four-term Mayor Gene Ramsey wouldn’t disagree.

“I think the turnout shows the commission has been doing a decent job,” he said. “At least the public thinks so.”

Linda Reed led the commissioners with 659 votes, while Ramsey and Rocky Fleer pulled in 634 and 534, respectively.

Reed, who was appointed to the city commission in 2008, said she was a little surprised by how many votes she received.

“It just affirms the fact that I want to help the city,” she said.

Since Tuesday marked Reed’s first formal election, she said she wasn’t really sure what to expect.

“You never know what the atmosphere is going to be like,” she said. “It was good news. I’m very excited.”

Fleer, on the other hand, said she wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

“It was what I thought would happen,” she said.

In the near future, Fleer said she wants to help conserve money in the city without negatively impacting any Ottawa citizens.

“We are really looking into the interest of the taxpayers,” she said.

Fleer, who has been on the city commission for 10 years, skated by the remaining candidates. Jeff Richards received 430 votes, Shawn Dickinson brought in 420 and Helen Hood picked up 213. Results are unofficial until canvassed.

“Even the candidates who were running said we were doing a good job,” Ramsey said.