LaRose eyeing run for mayor

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Mayoral candidate Brian LaRose.

Following Mayor Jay Niles’ announcement last week that he will not seek re-election, speculation regarding who might throw their hat in the ring has begun to percolate in the village of Granville.

A short time later current Trustee Brian LaRose announced his intention to seek the mayor’s chair in March. “I’m

definitely going to run for mayor,” LaRose said Monday.

Reached last Friday for comment, LaRose said he planned to take the weekend to finalize his decision.

“I haven’t made an exact decision yet,” LaRose said. “I’m probably running for the mayor-ship but I’m taking the weekend to think about it.”

The two-term trustee, who has served six years, said he planned to discuss the move with his wife before he began the process, but he expected to notify the village by Jan. 10.

LaRose said his involvement in village government over the past several years has given him a good idea of all of the issues in the village and the projects under way and puts him in a good position to keep the village moving forward if voters elect him as mayor.

With LaRose seeking the village’s highest office, the move leaves one seat on the village board unspoken for.

The current holder of the other seat, board member Dean Hyatt, said he had no interest in seeking the mayor’s job when asked just after the announcement at the Jan. 3 board meeting.

Hyatt said he planned to seek another term on the village board.

Hyatt and LaRose have each picked up an official petition; both must obtain the signatures of 50 registered voters from the village unless they run on a ticket. On a ticket together the two men need only to combine to gather 50 signatures.  

Low voter turnout typically accompanies a local election that is uncontested and out of the cycle with a major state or national election.

Others who have held the office or recently run for mayor expressed little interest in the position.

Former village Mayor Tom Scott said last week he was not interested in running for the position he held just four years ago. “No, I’m definitely not interested in running for mayor,” Scott said.

Dan Brown was a candidate for trustee six years ago but said he did not intend to pick up a petition to run for either position. “No I’m not interested,” Brown said.

LaRose picked up what could become his first endorsement when Brown said he had heard LaRose was considering a run. “I think Brian would do a good job. I think Brian would make an excellent mayor,” Brown said.

LaRose’s last running mate, John Norton, said he had no plans to run for office in the village.

Village Judge Roger Forando said he plans to run for another term.