Attorney Jim Ellis defeats longtime Fremont mayor

11/8/2011

Attorney Jim Ellis has defeated longtime Fremont mayor Terry Overmyer.

Mr. Ellis, a Chicago native who moved to Fremont in 1998, defeated the incumbent of 20 years with 56.4 percent of the vote, he said Tuesday night.

During the campaign, Mr. Ellis criticized the city’s handling of several large infrastructure projects, including a $28 million reservoir that went more than $10 million over budget. He promised smarter planning and more community involvement if elected.

“People want a change in the way the city approaches job creation and a change in the way the government operates,” Mr. Ellis said. “We offered a different type of strategic planning process that is community based.”

Though official results weren’t immediately available from the Sandusky County Board of Elections, Mr. Overmyer confirmed the results.

“It’s been a real privilege to be the longest standing mayor of the city I grew up in,” he said. “Life goes on. I wish Fremont well.”