VIENNA - Former Vienna City Recorder Randy Rapp will now be referred to as the mayor of Vienna.
Rapp won the election by an unofficial margin of 60.35 percent or 2,886 votes. His opponent, the late Jack Roush, received 36.87 percent or 1,763 votes.
"I'm very proud that the citizens of Vienna have selected me to be the mayor," he said learning of the unofficial results.
This election created a different opportunity for Vienna citizens. The late Jack Roush passed away on Nov. 1 at Camden Clark Medical Center.
If Roush, 51, would have won the election a vacancy in the office would have occurred on Jan. 1, according to Wood County Clerk Jamie Six. The recorder of the city would become acting mayor until a mayor would have been appointed by city council to serve the four-year term, Six said.
However, Vienna citizens decided to elect Rapp instead, and no special circumstances will be needed.
"I worked really hard to get out and meet all the people in town," said Rapp of his campaign.
He said he would like to focus on the beautification of the city by sprucing up the store fronts and Grand Central Avenue. Rapp said he is still in shock of the strange outcome of the election.
"I'm still very shocked of Jack's passing," Rapp said of the late Roush. "He was a good man; it's just unfortunate."
Rapp said he believed the biggest key to his campaign for mayor was his experience.
"I have eight years in the city's inner workings," he said. "I'm absolutely pleased with the council members."
The city was fortunate to have a lot of good candidates, he said. The citizens were not the only ones Rapp was making sure he gave his thanks for on election night.
"I would like to thank my wife for her continued support," he said. "If I could say anything to her it's just thank you."
Write-in candidates Brent West and Norm Harris received a combined total of 133 votes or 2.78 percent.
