WHIO Local News

ELECTION UPDATE: Leitzell stuns McLin, is new Dayton mayor

Tom Michaels - Internet News Director

@ November 4, 2009 5:20 AM Permalink | Comments (4)

DAYTON, Ohio -- In a stunning upset, Dayton will have a new mayor as independent challenger Gary Leitzell ousts incumbent Rhine McLin by 878 votes.

With all precincts reporting, Leitzell tallied 51.5 percent, or 14,923 votes, to McLin's 48.5 percent, or 14,045 votes.

Leitzell, 48, is chairman of a Dayton neighborhood council and campaigned on the needs change which has financial problems and has been losing jobs at a steady rate.

The mayor-elect has worked in retail, sold insurance and rehabbed houses and says he brings innovative thinking and business savvy. He says the city can cut its projected budget deficit by selling unneeded properties and organizing events to attract out-of-state patrons.

McLin, 61, was elected as the first female mayor of Dayton in 2001 and was seeking her third term.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

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What others are saying

Congratulations!
Congratulations to Mr. Leitzell! Dayton has had a very high crime rate,particularly in the West side, economic woes, mismanagement, and little, if any, accountability, in the Mayor's office since 2001,
This should ALL change for the BETTER now as we now have HOPE! Good news for DAYTON! BRAVO to the voters! Hallelujah!
By Pat Kelly @ 11/04/09 06:46:10 PMreport abuse
New Mayor
I hope Dayton can get turned around. It's been run through the mud long enough!
By K-Town @ 11/04/09 02:28:09 PMreport abuse
Finally...
Here is change we can believe in! I look forward to Mayor Leitzell taking office. I also look forward to feeling SAFE in my community. Business and residents will not come to a city that is not safe.
By Jennifer @ 11/04/09 01:43:14 PMreport abuse
New Mayor Elect.
Congratulations!I think this was an overdue victory for all of the residents in the city of Dayton. I know very little about Mr. Leitzell's positions and quite a bit about former Mayor McLin's positions and look forward to a change in direction for our community.
By Rich @ 11/04/09 10:15:58 AMreport abuse