Harrison Opts For New Mayor

By Mike Perleberg William Neyer, a Republican, won election as the City of Harrison's next mayor on Tuesday, November 3. Photo via City of Harrison. (Harrison, Oh.) - A hotly contested mayoral race in Harrison ended with the current mayor being ousted. Mayor Joel McGuire will see his second term as mayor come to an end this year as he was defeated on Tuesday by Republican councilman William Neyer. Neyer gained 58 percent of the 3,402 votes cast to win. “Hey everyone, it looks like we came up short,” McGuire posted on his campaign Facebook page Tuesday night. “Thanks to the many of you that stepped up and helped me out. It was flattering to get such help and praise, I very much appreciate it, and wish you all the best.” McGuire won office as an independent candidate in 2011. Not having party support proved to be a tough hurdle to overcome this time around. Neyer, who has been the superintendent of the South Dearborn Regional Sewer District in Indiana since 2008, is a four-term Harrison City Council member. There has been a clear division between McGuire and members of city council over the past four years, particularly over city employee salaries and benefits. Neyer’s council term runs through 2017, so he will have to vacate that seat when he moves to the mayor position. A caucus will be necessary to fill the council vacancy. Harrison voters were also asked to decide on a Southwest Local School District bond issue and tax levy on Tuesday. Learn what happened in that election here. RELATED STORIES: Harrison Area Voters Have Much To Decide AUDIO: Harrison Candidates & Issues Event