Harrison Mayor Resigns; Election Winner Sworn In Early

By Mike Perleberg Joel McGuire (left) resigned as Mayor of Harrison on Wednesday. Vice mayor and mayor-elect Bill Neyer was sworn in as mayor the same day. Photos via City of Harrison. (Harrison, Oh.) - Harrison is getting a new mayor sooner than expected. Joel McGuire resigned the position of mayor in an email to city leaders on Wednesday morning. McGuire was defeated in Tuesday’s election by Republican city councilman and vice mayor Bill Neyer, 58 percent to 41 percent. "I resigned early Wednesday morning after learning about the election results," McGuire said in a statement. "Neyer is the vice mayor already so he immediately becomes mayor. It gives city council time to find Neyer's replacement on city council for the remainder of his term, and to get that replacement on board in time for the budget process that has to be done by the end of the year." Neyer was supposed to take office in January, but was formally sworn in as the city's executive at Wednesday night's city council meeting. City charter allows the vice mayor to fill a mayoral vacancy if it is within the final six months of the mayor's term. McGuire's term would have expired at the end of this year. Neyer said Harrison voters chose him because they believe in his vision and goals for the city's future. "We've taken care of the core things in the city. Police, water, sewer, fire department," Neyer said Thursday. "We'll save our money for those luxury items - a pool at the rec center or whatever - but not at the sacrifice of those things." RELATED STORIES: Harrison Opts For New Mayor Harrison Area Voters Have Much To Decide AUDIO: Harrison Candidates & Issues Event