Estrop, who was first elected to city leadership in 2017 for a 2018 start, announced at Tuesday’s commission meeting that he is not seeking another term. He said he made his decision not to run for a third term some time ago, sharing it with select friends, as well as members of the commission and city staff.
He cited a desire to have “more time with family” and to address a “to do” list that includes work on the home he and wife Virginia share in Springfield as well as on the childhood home and farm he inherited from his parents near Springfield, Illinois.
“It’s been my pleasure and honor to serve the people of Springfield, and I thank those who supported me,” he said in sharing his decision.
Prior to his commission service, Estrop served for almost 20 years as a superintendent of three Ohio school districts, including Springfield City School up to his retirement. Estrop said he was approached about running for local office following his retirement.
He was elected to the commission at a time when the city was facing significant financial issues, and despite “bumps along the way” he believes he will leave the city “on a better trajectory than it was” when he assumed his commission seat.
Estrop was named assistant mayor in 2024, replacing Rob Rue, who was elevated to the role of mayor when then-ailing Mayor Warren Copeland resigned from the position. Estrop’s term ends December 31, 2025.
- Two other city commission terms expire on Dec. 31 as well. Neither Krystal Brown nor Bridget Houston responded to inquires from the News-Sun about their intention to run for another term. Neither of them addressed the issue Tuesday night after Estrop made his announcement.
Because there are three commission seats up for competition in 2025, there will only be a May primary election in this race if seven or more candidates are certified to the ballot. If six or fewer are certified, those candidates will automatically advance to the November election, where voters will choose three.
According to the city charter, to run for Springfield city commission in 2025, a resident of the city needs to get the signatures of at least 250 registered voters in the city, and file those petitions with the county board of elections by Feb. 5.
Newcomers seeking commission seats
According to the Clark County Board of Elections website, three potential candidates are circulating petitions in an effort to qualify for the May primary ballot non-partisan city commission race:
- Larry Ricketts retired as a volunteer EMT and firefighter with the Springfield Fire Department in 2022. Ricketts has also played a significant leadership role with People for Safe Water working to clean up the Tremont City Barrel Fill.
- Beth Donahue, Executive Director of Springfield Domestic Violence Coalition, dedicated to reducing domestic violence in the community. Donahue launched the non-profit LLC in 2024 to raise awareness and provide support to local victims of domestic violence.
- William Monaghan, a former newspaper journalist who now manages a Springfield based social media site and has become a frequent critic at city commission meetings. Monaghan gained national attention as a spokesperson during the election cycle turmoil surrounding Haitian immigration last fall.
Jason Baker, director of the Clark County Board of Elections, said it is possible there could be more people running for the office, as potential candidates can print off petitions from the BOE website without formally notifying the board.
Estrop encouraged any citizen interested in seeking a commission seat to contact the Clark County Board of Elections for assistance in understanding and meeting the filing and financial reporting requirements.
“They will be most helpful in answering any questions you might have,” he said.
Credit: Bill Lackey
Credit: Bill Lackey
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