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“Well, all the names have changed though.”
Since you’ve been hanging out
But that dream remained
And they turned around. ”
— “Welcome Home” by John Sebastian
MANSFIELD — Kelly Blankenship hasn’t set foot in the City of Mansfield’s Treasurer’s Office since leaving the office 12 years ago.
But you can’t blame her if John Sebastian’s lyrics from the 1970s TV comedy “Welcome Home Kotter” are running through her head on Friday afternoon.
Like Mr. Cotter, who returned to his alma mater to teach, Mr. Blankenship officially returned to his position as finance director with a swearing-in ceremony held in the City Council chambers.
“It’s comfortable. It feels like I’m coming home,” said Blankenship, who led the city’s finance department from 2007 to 2011 before narrowly losing re-election.
She won the seat in November with 57 percent of the vote, replacing Lynn Steward, who was prevented from running again due to term limits.
State Representative Marilyn John, whose 76th Congressional District covers Richland County, was sworn in during a short ceremony attended by her two children, Myra and Mannix.
(Below is a photo gallery from Friday afternoon’s swearing-in ceremony for new City of Mansfield Finance Director Kelly Blankenship. Story continues below gallery.)
But Blankenship’s first official day on the job will be Tuesday.
“I currently have a list of staff[in the finance department]but I don’t know many of them. I’ve only met a few of them just now, and since I left 12 years ago, I have yet to physically go to the office. “I haven’t,” she said.
She previously served as executive director of Wayfinders Ohio Inc., a homeless facility formerly known as Harmony House.
But the fact that she’s not in the Treasury doesn’t mean Blankenship isn’t preparing. She’s already in talks with Mayor-elect Jodi Perry. They must submit a final 2024 budget proposal to the City Council by the end of March.
“I met with Jody about some city-related things we needed to discuss. I know it’s going to have to be busy the first day when I get here,” Blankenship said.
In remarks before the ceremony, John, a Richland County commissioner and former mayor of Shelby, said he would be happy to provide advice to Blankenship.
“As the leader of the (local) Republican Party and as an elected official, I often advise and advocate for people. So, Kelly, as you take on this new role, I would like to I’ll be happy to continue doing that for you,” John said with a laugh.
“We are so excited for Kelly, her family and most importantly the city of Mansfield,” John said.
After taking the oath, Mr. Blankenship thanked those in attendance.
“In a way, it feels like coming home for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there.
“But I knew we had a great team in place with Jody and all the people she had assembled to help her, and the new (district court) judges, and a whole new position, so I went back this time. “I was really excited about the opportunity to come here to lead the administration and continue the good work that Lynn started during her tenure,” Blankenship said.
“I’m really excited to help move Mansfield forward on the path that has already begun and it’s going to be a great journey. I’m glad you’re all here with me.”
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