Portsmouth has elected it’s first woman mayor.

True to form, as in the May primary, Jane Murray out-distanced write-in candidate Jerry Skiver and incumbent Portsmouth Mayor James Kalb, to become the new mayor of the city of Portsmouth.

Murray had recently displayed open confidence by speaking about plans she has after taking office.

Murray told those present at a news conference last week that she will create several boards and commissions immediately after taking office. They include a housing stock and neighborhood redevelopment commission; a parks and leisure time master planning board; a heritage, arts, cultural and tourism master planning board; an economics development commission, and a town/gown planning board.

Murray asked for volunteers to serve on the boards and commissions.

Murray came under fire from Kalb and a new Web site (www.Ptownunderground.blogspot.com) in recent days, calling attention to a controversy brought up by a Lexington, Ky., newspaper (Herald-Leader) some five years after she left city government there. Murray served in the administration of then-Mayor Scotty Baesler.

Murray, whose married name at the time was Vimont, had her name come up as a part of an investigation of the state legislature in which she was accused of not having receipts for credit card expenditures.

Murray felt she answered those questions recently when she said she had always brought in receipts.

“There was never any mention of having violated any procedures on expenses,” Murray told the Times. “All of my expenses were approved by the mayor in advance.”

Last week the highlight of the campaign was the battle of the endorsements.

Murray had received the endorsement of the Area Political Committee of AFSCME (American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees) Ohio Council 8, and AFSCME Ohio Retiree Chapter 1184, AFL-CIO.

While that union represents city workers, other than police and firefighters, several city workers had come forth to say that local members of the union who worked for the city had not been given the opportunity to vote, and had even said it is in their bylaws not to endorse anyone.

Kalb issued a release on Friday, with a photo of him flanked on one side by Portsmouth Police Officers and the other side by Portsmouth Firefighters. In that release, he thanked the Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council, Inc. Lodge No. 33, and the International Association of Firefighters-Local #512 for their endorsement.

Murray was swept into the race by her original involvement with the Grandview Avenue area flooding issue.

Residents of that area have continually suffered from human waste and other debris coming into their homes via a failed Combined Sewer Overflow system.

Murray became their spokesperson, and soon was the face of that issue and several others including declining infrastructure.

Murray received 43.99 percent of the vote to Skiver’s 30.09 percent, and Kalb’s 25.92 percent.

When the final count was in, Murray had tallied 1,930 votes to Skiver’s 1,320 votes, and Kalb’s 1,137 votes.

Murray did not show up at the Scioto County Court House, and did not respond to repeated calls to her home throughout the evening.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101 Ext. 232