BARNESVILLE — Five candidates are vying for two seats on village council in a race that will be decided Tuesday.

Aleysa Hendershot is seeking office for the first time. She said she would bring public concerns to council if elected.

“I’ve been a resident of Barnesville since I moved here in 2003,” she said. “My husband and I are co-owners of a small business here in town, and so I understand what it is to make wise financial decisions.”

She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and has put it to use in helping the business.

“When we opened Hendershot Detailing, we were welcomed by the community and have grown our business, and I just want to use my education and business experience to help Barnesville grow and prosper,” she said. “… I’ve been in data management for about 12 years now, so I just want to be the person who is willing to listen to the voters more than just take my personal stance on items.”

Hendershot said she would bring a different perspective to council.

“Barnesville’s been on a track lately of seeming to do more personal-type business within council. My goal is to dig in and make the decisions based on facts and statistics instead of joining side with, say, a group,” she said.

One area she would address is outreach to the community and to other municipalities.

“My goal is to promote small business within the village, bring more people into the village,” she said, noting her first responsibility would always be to the public. “… I’m the voice for the people.”

She is married to Chris Hendershot. Their child, Jace, attends Barnesville Exempted Village School District.

Candidate Courtney Valine said change is needed. This would be her first time in an elected office, though she ran for a council seat two years ago. She said she wants to make the village a place her daughter, Calista, will return to after graduating from Case Western Reserve University.

“I honestly think Barnesville’s an amazing place, but I think we can make it a little bit better. We currently have some things going on with our current council. Barnesville was sued for violating the Sunshine Law, which is basically the open meeting law in the state of Ohio,” she said. “We had to settle out of court.”

In August, council voted to settle a lawsuit brought against the village by Open Government Advocates. Village Solicitor Adam Myser termed the group that brought the suit and others like it “public meeting bounty hunters” who sued after “mining” the village’s publicly available meeting minutes.

Valine said she also wants to make meetings more friendly to public participation.

“I’d just like to see some new ideas come into town. I’d like to see people welcomed into council meetings,” she said, adding that she said she has been made to feel unwelcome when she attended meetings.

She said a program of infrastructure maintenance is needed, considering waterline breaks and boil orders.

“Our water and sewer lines, they’re 100 years old now. It’s no one’s fault, but we need to start looking into — before we pave a street — look at the infrastructure in the ground and see if we need to replace it first.”

Valine said she would explore ways to get higher returns on village investments.

She also criticized the current council’s decision to raze some historic structures.

“We need to do a better job listening to the people of Barnesville,” she said.

Valine works as a property manager and has worked in accounting and finance. She is married to Derick Valine.

Candidate Mark Lucas believes he will bring a new perspective and valuable experience if elected in his first run for office.

“I’m not a politician. I’m just doing what I’ve got to do,” he said. “I’ve been here all my life.”

Lucas said his wife, Roberta, has been an employee of Barnesville’s water department, which has helped him familiarize himself with village government. Running for a position in municipal leadership has been an ambition of his.

“I always wanted to run for council, but with her being village water clerk I chose not to. I didn’t want no conflict, so once she retired last year, I decided to throw my hat in the ring. I’d like to see some changes up there, and maybe I can be the one to help get things going,” he said.

Lucas was a postal worker for 30 years until his retirement. He said he would bring openness and a willingness to make changes.

“I’d like to see more transparency in the way that council’s run. I would like to see more public involvement,” he said.

Lucas said he would also explore town hall style meetings in the hopes of increasing participation.

“It’s everybody’s town. We’ve got a great town, but I think it could be better,” he said, adding he is very interested in parks and recreation and in ways to bring more industry to the area.

Lucas said he would also explore grants for infrastructure repair.

“Right now the big thing’s infrastructure, waterlines, the historical park,” he said.

Lucas also said he disagreed with council’s decision to raze historic buildings on Chestnut Street.

“I thought that was total chaos, but they did what they thought was right. I can live with that. I might make choices people don’t like either,” he said.

He and his wife have three children and three grandchildren.

Robyn Misner intends to bring business acumen to the job if elected. Misner was not available to be interviewed by phone, but she submitted information in a series of email exchanges.

“I am a Barnesville alumna. I have been here all my life. I have not held a political office before,” she wrote in an email. “I decided to run because I truly love my community.”

Misner is the owner of the Dairy Queen in the village. She can also be seen with the American Legion Riders Post 168, where she serves as secretary.

“I do not have any hidden agenda I just want to see our village continue to be successful and a safe and great place to live,” she wrote.

Misner said her experience in the private sector and in organizations will serve her and the public well if she is elected.

“I myself do own a business in Barnesville so people is my business. I feel the skills and relationships I have gained in this community will help me in my decision making in this role,” she added. “As far as leadership style, I like to lead by example. If you work hard and stand by your values it often encourages others to do the same.

Misner is optimistic about the future, adding that Barnesville is equal to the challenges ahead.

Misner has roots in the area and is heavily involved in the community.

“I of course live in Barnesville with my husband Jim. My mother Linda Baker and brother Gordon Baker also live in Barnesville. My father Don Baker passed in 2020. I am a huge supporter of Barnesville athletics and the robotics program and 4-H, so anything that benefits our youth is very important to me.”

Incumbent Councilman Terry McCort could not be reached for an interview or to submit information to The Times Leader despite multiple attempts to contact him by phone and through the village offices.