(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

VIENNA — Four new members were elected to Vienna City Council Tuesday.

Incumbent Councilman Jim Leach was the highest vote-getter in the nonpartisan race for five seats with 2,573. He was followed by Harry Deitzler with 2,549, Tami Rhodes with 1,992, Tony Morrison with 1,981 and Henry Sasyn with 1,630, according to final, unofficial results from the Wood County clerk’s office..

“I’m just happy to be able to help out,” Deitzler, a former Wood County prosecutor, said as results came in Tuesday at the Wood County Courthouse. “Whether I would get elected or not, I was still gonna do my best … what’s important is to get the things that make people happy to be there, make Vienna the place that people want to spend time in.”

Rhodes shared her excitement over the results.

“I feel very grateful, I feel very humbled that the citizens of Vienna have put their trust and their faith in me,” she said. “My whole goal in serving on council is to listen to the people and represent them … to do what the people need.”

Morrison was also pleased with the results but wanted to wait for the official tally and for provisional ballots to be counted before celebrating.

“I feel like honestly I gave it my best effort, put a lot of time and effort into running,” he said Tuesday, “I’m happy if I do, in fact, end up being elected … if that actually comes to fruition, then yes, I’m excited to actually get in office and start doing my part.”

Sasyn shared his hopes to win over the citizens of Vienna and create a clear path moving forward.

“We can focus on what Vienna needs to work on and get all together and work,” he said. “I’d like to thank all of the residents that had the faith and confidence to vote for me. I hope to win the faith, confidence and hearts of those that didn’t vote for me over the next four years.”

Leach could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

For the recorder position, unofficial results put Rod Smith at 2,420 votes versus Alice Goodwin’s 2,036.

“It’s very humbling that the citizens of Vienna decided to put me in as their recorder,” Smith said. “I know I have a lot of work to do and to make sure I meet the citizens’ expectations. … I’m so excited for the new council that’s coming in and to keep Vienna moving forward.”

Other candidates for council included Carrie Rapp with 1,529 votes, Seth Colvin with 1,222, the late Roger D. Bibbee, who passed away in September, with 1,075; Brian Patrick Flinn with 987; and Twila Jean Martin with 833. There were 304 write-in votes, with Kathy Boswell-Davis the only official write-in candidate.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.