TUESDAY’S ELECTION yielded few surprises.

As expected, Bob Vincenzo and Paul Riethmiller rolled in their respective mayoral races.

Vincenzo is a St. Clairsville institution while Riethmiller essentially became mayor after defeating incumbent Phil Wallace in the primary.

The two Bellaire school funding requests also generated outcomes that did not raise many an eyebrow. The district’s renewal levy passed by a slim margin. Renewals often gain easy passage, but the closeness was no shocker as it was lumped with another school tax and the 911 levy.

Bellaire’s 1-percent tax was beaten up badly, losing by some 800 votes. The fourth rejection in less than a two-year span of a funding request should be a pretty clear indication to the Bellaire school hierarchy that it is time to go another route.

The All-American Town has developed an anti-levy mentality. School issues and police levies have met with no success in recent years. With the economy still at low tide, a large school levy or income tax appears doomed.

The Belmont County 911 levy went down by some 2,000 votes. Two factors led to its demise — the economy along with one of the 911 board members speaking out that there was no need for it.

The big loser in the general election may have been a politician not even on the ballot. Gov. John Kasich took a major hit when his pet project — Senate Bill 5 — imploded in the form of Issue 2.

Less than one year into his administration, Issue 2 was a line-in-the-sand moment for Kasich. He governing skills were dealt a huge blow.

Kasich will need to mend some fences with the union membership if he wants to make a viable re-election run. He has alienated the middle class of workers and trying to gain their trust and support will be no easy task, maybe an impossible one.

I would like to think Kasich is smart enough not to mount another attack against unions. He bit off more than he could chew this time around.

MORGAN JOINS HOF

SUE MORGAN, who has helped tutor many superb distance runners at Barnesville High School including her four daughters, received her own prestigious athletic award Friday night.

Morgan was inducted into the Eastern Kentucky University Athletic Hall of Fame. She still holds the school record in the 5,000-meter run. Morgan established the mark in 1978 with a sizzling 16:05.0 clocking.

Morgan still owns the second best time in EKU annals in the 3,000 meters via a 9:27.0 reading.

She competed on the Eastern Kentucky cross country and track teams for four seasons (1977-81). Following graduation from high school, she won the 3,000-meter run at the AAU Nationals at UCLA in June of 1977 before enrolling at EKU.

She attained All-American status in 1977 when she ran a personal best of 17:37 for the 5,000 meters, placing fifth at the cross country nationals. She also reached All-American status in 1978 when she placed fifth at the NCAA Track outdoor national meet and was named OVC Female Cross Country Runner of the Year in 1980.

In her senior season, Morgan was the 1981 Ohio Valley Conference champion in the outdoor 1,500, 3,000 and the 5,000-meter runs. She is still listed as the current OVC championship meet record holder in the outdoor 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:49.06 (recorded in 1981) and is the current school record holder in the 5,000-meter run (16:05.0).

Morgan matriculated to Eastern Kentucky from Buffalo, NY, where she graduated from Clarence High School in 1977 where she was the high school national champion in the two-mile run and participated in the Olympic tryouts at Squaw Valley in the summer of 1977.

Her four daughters — Ruth, Molly, Jenny and Stephanie — all enjoyed tremendous careers in track and cross country, the latter two winning numerous state championships in Ohio and Michigan.

BUBBA’S BITS

ALTHOUGH THE playoffs were short-lived for Westerville Central, John Magistro deserves major kudos for the superb job he did with the program. Central went 8-3, much better than anyone forecast. As a result, Magistro was selected Associated Press Central District Coach of the Year. I expect the former Bellaire High coaching legend to have continued success in the Columbus suburb.

Speaking of prep football, I have said all season long that Linsly was the second best team in the Ohio Valley, with Steubenville topping the list. After seeing the Cadets dismantle Wheeling Central, I have no doubt Linsly would give the Big Red a competitive game, albeit a losing one.

THE SHADYSIDE Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 22, at 6:30 p.m. Along with the tree lighting the chamber will light the “In Memory Of/In Honor Of” Luminaries. These luminaries can be purchased at WesBanco, Huntington Bank, Shadyside Flower and Gift Shop, and the mayor’s office at a cost of $5 each. Deadline is Nov. 19. The public is invited to take part in an evening of singing and fellowship along with cookies and hot chocolate in the Community Center after the lighting.

I WOULD be remiss if I didn’t say that Martins Ferry school officials put on a first-class show for its playoff game with Coshocton at Dave Bruney Football Complex. Athletic Director Kim Appolloni and her staff pampered the media and the Redskins, alike. The food spread for media and workers was off the charts. I put on at least 10 pounds during the game.

I COMMEND Jason Wilson for picking his family over politics. Partisan-based redistricting would have forced Wilson to relocate to seek a chance to remain in office. Jason is young enough and experienced enough to re-enter politics down the road. For now, I agree with his family-based choice.

KUDOS TO the Martins Ferry Lions and anyone who contributed to their cause with the Fodor Field project. The new playground is second to none.

MONEY TRIVIA: If you toss a penny 10,000 times, it will not be heads 50 percent of the time, but more likely 49 percent. The heads picture weighs more, so it ends up on the bottom. So always pick tails, you have a slightly better chance.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com