When Tuesday’s primary election ended, only 25 votes separated the two Republicans running for Columbus City Council District 1.
Incumbent Dascal Bunch won 55 percent of the vote, compared to 45 percent for challenger Christopher Rutan. While only 245 votes were cast in the first district, Bunch won the opportunity to seek a third consecutive term on the council.
The District 1 primary campaign almost seemed like a rematch from the 2015 general election. That was when Rutan — a community organizer and property manager — ran as a Democrat against Bunch.
After Bunch won that election with an overwhelming 66 percent of the vote, Rutan said he felt troubled that he was the only Democrat running for city council who lost in 2015.
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On Feb. 7, Rutan claimed he experienced an evolving ideological viewpoint after filing as a Republican to provide Bunch, a retired tool maker, a primary challenge.
With only about two dozen votes separating the candidates, Bunch, 64, said he knew his primary race against Rutan would be closer than the 2015 general election.
“As much as I disagreed with how (Rutan) did things, he did go out and persuade people to vote,” Bunch said. “You’ve got to give him credit.”
There was also Rutan’s willingness to utilize social media in campaigning, which is something Bunch says he has never attempted.
Rutan, 41, said he wished he had done door-to-door campaigning, but was unable to this year due to both conflicting family issues and inclement weather.
“I ran a clean campaign, I did the best I could, and I will be back,” Rutan said.
It appears Bunch may have a challenger on the November ballot. Democratic Party chairman Bob Hyatt said he plans to place the name of Jerone B. Wood, 30, of Phoenix Court on the ballot.
While Wood — a leasing agent for an apartment complex — has filed an exploratory campaign finance report, he is not yet an official candidate. Hyatt said he plans to place Wood’s name on the ballot to challenge Bunch before the June 30 deadline for political parties to fill vacant slots on the November ballot.
While Bunch had earlier questioned Wood’s eligibility to run based on his length of residency in the first district, the incumbent Republican now says he does not plan to challenge Wood’s candidacy during the general campaign, Bunch said.
Now almost fully recuperated from a foot injury, Bunch said he anticipates being able to engage in several campaign activities from now through early November, including door to door campaigning.
The District 1 race was one of the least expensive this year. Neither Rutan nor Bunch listed any individual contributors in campaign finance reports filed in mid-April, although Rutan stated he had raised $370 during a March 2 fundraiser.
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Columbus City Council District 1
Republican
Dascal Bunch;135
Christopher Rutan;110
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