Bellefontaine residents selected David Crissman as their new mayor during Tuesday’s general election.
Republican Crissman defeated his Democratic challenger Tim Steinhelfer 2,434 votes to 1,084 votes, according to unofficial totals.
A retired firefighter/paramedic, Crissman served with the Bellefontaine Fire Department from 1991 to 2022. He related that during that time, he served under five different mayors and had the chance to observe the differences in leadership and management styles.
He also said he was urged by his fellow colleagues just a few years ago to consider his own run for mayor.
“After serving the community for more than 30 years as a firefighter/paramedic, I want to serve you in a different capacity,” he said when announcing his candidacy earlier this year.
Tuesday night, local domestic relations attorney Steinhelfer offered a statement reflecting on the challenges and successes of the campaign and expressing deep appreciation to his supporters.
“I have reached out to Mayor-elect David Crissman to extend my heartfelt congratulations. I wish him the very best in guiding our beloved city forward. His success is now our success.
“This election season has been challenging, but it has also given us the opportunity to form lasting bonds built on our shared values of justice, tolerance, and unwavering commitment to Constitutional freedoms. To my dedicated supporters: my gratitude knows no bounds. Your passion and hard work have illuminated this campaign, and I am honored by the trust and enthusiasm you have placed in our vision.
“As we move forward, let’s continue to keep working towards the betterment of our community. Our journey does not end here; it merely takes a new path. Never forget that democracy is the only game in town, and the acceptance of of the will of the people is truly what makes America great.”
Crissman said it was an enjoyable campaign season making door-to-door visits. He and his wife of over 41 years, Marcia, were busy 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,” said Crissman, who also was the owner-operator of his own bathtub refinishing repair business for over 30 years. “The door-to-door visits have been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work.
During his career as a firefighter/paramedic, some of his observations and concerns have led to his areas of focus as mayor.
“I’d like to improve relationships between the city administration, department heads and employees,” he said. “In addition, I’d like to improve the relationships between the city and county; right now. The city can learn a lot from the county and vice versa. The city can also learn a lot from its residents. We need to get rid of the fighting and move forward.”
