“I was shanghaied,” said Ken Voigt in explaining how he happened to be a Belleville mayoral candidate for about three days and then a non-candidate.
Voigt, a retired Belleville Police Corporal with a degree in municipal government, started the ArtAffair on Main this year and chaired the Music Lakeside series, as well as attending seminary to become a minister and serving as a chaplain with the Van Buren Township Public Safety Department.
He also was a longtime chairman of the Belleville Downtown Development Authority and in the last few years has again become a member of the DDA.
He explained about his mayoral bid.
“A group of people wanted me to be mayor,” Voigt explained. “I didn’t want to, but they circulated a petition and turned it in.
“I signed the affidavit of identity, feeling I should at least consider running since they went to all that effort.”
He said he talked to his wife Peggy and prayed about it and decided it didn’t fit in with his plans for the next four years.
Voigt said he doesn’t want to have to plan his life around council meetings at this point.
Besides his trips to his seminary classes, he goes on missions, with a mission to Africa last year.
He said he met with the two other mayoral candidates, Rick Dawson and Kerreen Conley, before making his decision.
His petition was turned in on deadline day, Aug. 16, and he officially withdrew on Aug. 19, the deadline day for candidates to withdraw.
Mayor Richard Smith is not running for re-election after serving one, four-year term.
Voigt said he agreed with those who thought he would make a good mayor, but anyone who listens to both sides and is willing to work would be a good mayor.
Now the candidates that will be on the ballot for election to a four-year term as Mayor of Belleville are:
• Kerreen Conley, 629 Light Tower Dr.; and
• Rick Dawson, 155 E. Columbia Ave.
The candidates for two open, four-year seats on the city council are:
• Vera Z. Howell, 567 Thornhill Ct.;
• Jack Loria, 118 S. Edgemont St.;
• Deanna Schrecengost, 516 Robbe Ave.;
• James Shrove (incumbent), 525 Harbour Pointe Dr.; and
• Tom Smith, 248 Roland St.
The election will be held on Nov. 8.