Three newcomers win Huron council seats, Dike re-elected

HURON — The Huron city council is set for a shakeup in January as three newcomers won enough votes to gain a seat.Mark Claus, Joel Hagy and Monty Tapp earned the three seats up for election, unseating councilman Glen Ginesi and beating out Sharon Gimperling Gallagher, according to unofficial results from the Erie County Board of Elections.Claus is a project manager at Breckenridge Kitchen Equipment & Design. Hagy is a retired Army colonel who now works as the cybersecurity director at GE Healthcare. Tapp is a retired Huron firefighter.Councilman Joe Dike, a local businessman, won re-election against William Biddlecombe in a race for an unexpired term left open by the resignation of Brad Hartung. The seat will go up for election again in 2021.Claus, Hagy, Tapp and Dike join Mayor Trey Hardy, Christine Crawford and Sam Artino on the seven-member council. Current councilman Rick Schaffter didn't run for re-election.The council oversees a $5 million everyday operating budget. The newly elected council members will help make decisions on the ConAgra site, the bed tax, safety at Nickel Plate Beach and many other issues facing the city. Huron city council (top 3 win)• Joel Hagy: 1,353• Mark Claus: 1,132• Monty Tapp: 943• Glen Ginesi: 733• Sharon Gimperling Gallagher: 626Unexpired term with two years left• Joe Dike: 1,241• William Biddlecombe: 557Note: According to unofficial resultsReach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterThe candidates who won election to the Huron city council, according to unofficial results. Top: Joel Hagy and Mark Claus Bottom: Tapp and Dike