HILLSBORO, Ohio (AP) — A veteran standup comedian was elected mayor Tuesday of a small city in southwest
Ohio.
With
Hillsboro reporting complete, unofficial results, Drew Hastings had 773
votes to 440 for John Levo, a retired banker and former city
councilman.
The 57-year-old Hastings moved from Los Angeles to the
community 50 miles east of Cincinnati six years ago, buying a cattle
farm. A veteran of TV’s "Comedy Central," a regular on the syndicated
"Bob & Tom Show" on radio, and familiar in comedy clubs across the
country, Hastings became increasingly involved in the city of 6,600
residents, buying and renovating several downtown buildings.
He
said his celebrity — although he jokingly describes himself as a "D, E,
or F-list celeb" — could help bring positive attention to Hillsboro. He
also suggested boosting tourism with "agri-tainment," such as hay art
and hay bale races. Hillsboro has been dealing with double-digit
unemployment and other financial issues.
Hastings also said his
years of performing in similar Midwest cities gives him some insights
into what works and what doesn’t for economic development.
He at
times had to fend off criticism of his adult-oriented humor and
questions about his motives, such as whether he was seeking publicity
for himself or gathering material for new comedy routines.
He
joked in a pre-election Twitter message that his campaign highlighted
sexual harassment issues: "I don’t think citizens should be touched
inappropriately — in their wallet."
Hastings won a three-way
Republican primary in May. Levo, who’s 65, filed as an independent. No
Democrats ran to succeed retiring two-term incumbent Richard Zink, a
Democrat.
Hastings, who grew up in the Dayton suburb of Kettering, will start a four-year term in January.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.