Columbus city councilman Jim Lienhoop will challenge fellow Republican and current Columbus major Kristen Brown in next year's mayoral race. Lienhoop spoke to supporters at the Yes Cinema, which almost reached capacity.
"This is an opportunity to help the city and it's something I'm comfortable doing and interested in pursuing," Lienhoop said.
Lienhoop will challenge current mayor and fellow Republican Kristen Brown, who's term has been met with controversy. The city sought a lawyer last year after Brown demoted parks director Ben Wagner, and Lienhoop said in his speech Saturday he hopes to alleviate the "climate of uncertainty" he thinks has dominated Columbus politics for the past two years.
"We need someone who will support, not control. Govern not rule," he said.
Three former city department heads joined Lienhoop onstage. All left under the current mayor's rule.
Lienhoop pledged to strengthen business relations abroad and enhance collaboration between all areas of local government.
Brad Davis, a twenty year Columbus resident, said support for the current Lienhoop spreads across party lines.
"These are the people in the community that you want on your side," Davis said. "There's a lot of Democrats in the house today, too. So, I think that speaks volumes about the type of leader we think he can be."
Lienhoop, an accountant, became involved in Columbus government six years ago when asked by the town's City Council to fill in for Craig Hawes, who was serving active military duty in Iraq. And it's that long-term affiliation with the town, says resident Karen Abel, that is making people rally around him.
"We do need to change. We need to reunite the party for one thing," Abel said. "It's not about dictatorship. It's not about a one-sided discussion. It's about bringing the governance of the community all together."
If she decides to campaign for a second term, Mayor Kristen Brown will face off with Lienhoop in the primary election in May 2016. The winner of that race would then run against the Democrat representative, although no other candidate has announced their intention to run at this time.
Mayor Kristen Brown did not respond for comment on this story.
