Fike wins second term as mayor
Incumbent Democratic Uniontown Mayor Ed Fike defeated Republican challenger Russ Rhodes for the second time to win a second term in office in Tuesday’s election.
Fike received 977 votes, or 56 percent of the total, and Rhodes received 781 votes, or 44 percent, with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results.
During his campaign, Fike, who also beat Rhodes in the 2007 election, told voters that the city is better off now than it was before he was elected.
He said he put the city on stable financial ground after inheriting a $1.6 million deficit from the previous administration when he took office.
Although a 4.5 mill property tax increase in 2009 pushed the tax rate to 13.235 mills, the tax rate was reduced by one mill this year and Fike said he wants another 1-mill decrease in the 2012 budget.
Fike touted the 30 rent-to-own homes, Maple Garden Apartments and new for-sale homes have been built under his administration.
He also said he increased the number of police officers from 16 to 23, purchased new police cars and demolished more than 100 blighted homes in his first term.
Rhodes said he would market the city to attract new businesses, devise a plan to get vacant lots back on the tax rolls and obtain payments in lieu of taxes from tax-exempt property owners.
He supported hiring a city manager and using free resources from the state Department of Economic Development to find ways to control spending.
Rhodes also questioned the effectiveness of code enforcment under Fike’s administration and questioned spending on a consultant for the controller’s office and some employee pay raises.