Smith, Hardesty advance to November in Lima mayor’s race
By Sam Shriver - sshriver@limanews.com
Sharetta Smith, left, shares a phone with family and friends while awaiting Lima mayoral primary results Tuesday night at The Meeting Place on Market. Smith finished first in the four-way nonpartisan primary election and advances to November’s general election.
Amanda Wilson | The Lima News
Mayoral run-off candidate Elizabeth Hardesty shows a supporter information from LimaOhio.com on Tuesday night at Westgate Entertainment Center. Hardesty finished second in the four-way nonpartisan primary election and advances to November’s general election.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
Lima mayoral candidates share their visions
Hardesty
Swanson
Lima’s mayor candidates for the 2021 primary are, from left, Elizabeth Hardesty, Joshua Hayes, Sharetta Smith and Autumn Swanson.
ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM
See past coverage of the Lima mayoral race at LimaOhio.com/tag/limamayor.
The Lima News will share the four Lima mayoral candidates’ answers to a different question each week through the May 4 primary.
Candidates were given up to 200 words to explain their answer, and they had four days to respond. Their answers appear as they submitted them, with minimal editing.
This week’s question:
The mayoral race is all about a person’s vision for Lima. What’s your vision of how Lima might look and feel in 2025 should you win this year’s election?
Hayes column: We don’t have to live this way
Joshua Hayes - Guest Column
Joshua Hayes, candidate for Lima mayor, hosted a discussion on regenerative agriculture, Saturday night at the Milano Cafe.
ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM
See past coverage of the Lima mayoral race at LimaOhio.com/tag/limamayor.
Lima is a city in pain. Right now many people in our city lack basic foundational needs: healthy nutritious foods, a safe living environment, and strong neighborhood relations and support. These are the foundation of a thriving community. A foundation that has been crumbling for decades. High crime rates. Addiction tearing families apart. And poverty and sickness running rampant.
Four things to watch in May 4 election
Elizabeth Hardesty
No. 1: LIMA MAYORAL RACE
Lima will be replacing David Berger, a mayor who served for 32 years, with a candidate who has never been elected to a public office. The top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s primary election will advance to the Nov. 2 general election.
ELIZABETH HARDESTY
Occupation: Geologist
Quote: “It appears any challenge to this current administration’s philosophy is met with fierce rejection and retaliation. My administration will be open to new ideas rather than taking a ‘my way or the highway’ approach.’”
In 100 words: Hardesty is about change.
She plans to increase the number of police, eliminate the mayor’s chief of staff position and replace it with a safety service director and use $10 million of stimulus funds toward improving housing.