Come November, there will be a new mayor in the city of Bellefontaine after challenger David Crissman defeated incumbent Ben Stahler, 650-579 in Tuesday’s Primary Election, according to unofficial results from the Logan County Board of Elections.
Crissman moves on to face Democratic challenger Tim Steinhelfer in November’s General Election.
A lifelong Bellefontaine resident, Crissman served as a firefighter/paramedic from 1991 to 2022. He previously said he wanted to run for mayor so that he can serve his community in a new way.
“It’s been an emotional ride and I’m excited to keep moving forward in this process,” Crissman said Tuesday night. “I’m appreciative to Ben Stahler for running a clean race and for reaching out to me tonight as well. I’m grateful to my family, church friends, co-workers and community members for all of their support.”
Stahler had a modest lead in absentee balloting, 331-296, but as same-day votes began to roll in, Crissman surged past his opponent.
“He is a good man and I support him as he continues through this process,” Stahler said of Crissman Tuesday night.
“I congratulate Mr. Crissman on winning his party’s nomination for mayor,” Steinhelfer said Tuesday evening. “I look forward to debating him, so the voters can evaluate whose experience, skills and ideas are best suited to move Bellefontaine forward.”
In addition to his service as a Bellefontaine first responder, Crissman was owner-operator of his own bathtub refinishing repair business for over 30 years. His community service included serving as president of Calvary Christian school board, and he is active in the Calvary Baptist Church, where he has served as a deacon.
He and his wife of over 41 years, Marcia, a fellow Bellefontaine High School graduate whom he met in middle school band class, spent recent months hitting up the many streets of Bellefontaine together to meet with residents for the campaign.
“It’s a nice town that we’re very proud of and I want to keep it that way,” Crissman said. “The door-to-door visits were a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. We’re going to take a little breather and then will be back at it.”
Stahler was appointed to the office of mayor in October 2014, and was elected to four-year terms in 2015 and 2019, respectively.
“I’m very grateful that I could serve as mayor for nine years, first appointed as a Democrat, then elected as a Democrat and the second time elected as a Republican in 2019.
“Since 1880, only two mayors have served Bellefontaine for more than eight years — Richard J. Vicario and I. It’s been an honor to serve our community for so long and I’m looking forward to the upcoming months finishing out my term. I’m going to leave our award-winning city in good hands.”
