This person had to make a difference in Central Ohio, and had to do so not just because it made them money or improved their life, but because they had a higher purpose. The Central Ohioan of the Year had to intentionally work to right a wrong, cure an injustice, or just plain make things better for everyone in Central Ohio.
This year's winner: Jim Bussey.
Jim started out fighting a ticket in New Rome (haven't we all), but he went much, much farther than that. He fought the "law", and the law LOST.
Jim spent countless hours developing a Web site called New Rome Sucks. This Web site not only listed his gripes about his ticket and his treatment but served as a magnet to bring together others with similar New Rome stories and make everyone realize just how corrupt this tiny little traffic trap really is.
But Jim didn't stop there. He went on local radio to discuss New Rome; he contacted local and national media to stir up more attention; and he organized marches to continually keep New Rome's corruption in the spotlight until state officials were finally forced to step in and do something about it.
The result? New Rome's "mayor's court" has been shut down. Their "police department" is no more. And the "New Rome Bill" passed the state legislature that lets the state sue in court to shut down small municipalities that serve no useful purpose. As the state of Ohio has such a suit in court as we speak, New Rome's life hangs in the balance.
Not bad results over basically a two-year period.
Other people here deserve honorable mention: area businessman Jamie Mueller for serving as New Rome mayor and fighting their inbred system. Prairie Township trustee Jeff Nourse for putting pressure on area officials. Ed Anthony for being willing to fight the "old guard" New Rome while living and working right there.
But it wasn't until Jim came along that all of these things happened and came together to change the face of the West side of Columbus. Now we can all breathe a sigh of relief at W. Broad and Norton, knowing we won't have to pay a $100 ticket for a dim license plate bulb or a missing license plate screw (hey dorks, the Ohio Revised Code says your license plate has to be "permanently mounted and prominently visible", I could use Super Glue if I wanted to).
Jim Bussey proved you CAN fight city hall. Or at least village trailer.
