2023 Norton Voter Guide: 3 running for mayor; 4 for 3 council seats
Welcome to the 2023 Voter Guide produced by the League of Women Voters and Akron Beacon Journal with funding from the Knight Foundation.
Three candidates are vying for Norton mayor in the Nov. 7 election, including incumbent Mike Zita.
Four candidates are seeking three seats on Norton City Council. The race for an unexpired council term for Ward 3 is uncontested with Donald Harbert running.
Two candidates for the Norton Board of Education (Jennifer Bennett and Mark DeDomenic) are also unopposed.
Early voting is taking place through Nov. 5 at the Summit County Board of Elections Early Vote Center, 500 Grant St., Akron.
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Responses are not edited, vetted or corrected by the League of Women Voters or Beacon Journal to allow candidates to speak in their own words.
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2023 Election: Summit County Voter Guide
Norton Mayor
Amber Johnson
Candidate did not respond
Charlotte Whipkey
Candidate did not respond
Mike Zita
Training/Experience: Served on the Norton Fire Department from 1980 - 1991
Education: 1980 Graduate of Norton High School, Fire Training - 1980, Paramedic Education Graduate 1982
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MayorMikeZita
Why are you the best candidate for the office? Under my leadership: The city has worked hard to maintain fiscal responsibility – earning the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Excellence in Financial Reporting as well as the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for multiple years. The city has invested millions of dollars in roads and utility services. We have been able to leverage tens of millions of dollars of local, state and federal grants to multiply the impact of our investments. We have increased our investments in our city parks to provide amenities that the residents desire. We have forged partnerships with community and civic groups and value those individuals, groups, and organizations within our city that walk along side of us to enhance the lives of our residents.
What is your vision for economic development for your community over the next 10 years? We will continue to focus our efforts on creating a business-friendly community and making Norton nationally competitive for high paying jobs. We have utilized targeted economic development incentives to create over 500 high paying jobs since 2019. We have welcomed this private investment in the city and because of it, national retailers are now willing and eager to also invest in our community. This will include completing the Norton Industrial Park. The Norton Industrial Park represents the single largest development opportunity available to the City to provide targeted, area appropriate industrial and manufacturing jobs in the City. We have currently located two strong employers in the industrial park which provided a full repayment of the City’s original investment in the land. The priority will be to find the highest and best use for the remaining 80+ acres at the site.
What are the most significant issues facing your community and what ideas do you have to address these issues? The key issue facing the City of Norton is how to responsibly manage a growing community. Norton has long suffered from a historic lack of investment in infrastructure, including maintenance and upkeep of our City roads and water infrastructure. While we have made great strides in this area, there is still work to do.
Norton Council-at-Large
Elect 3 from four candidates.
Paul Eader
Candidate did not respond
Joe Kernan
Training/Experience: Incumbent Councilperson since 2016, prior mayor of Norton 2004-2007, prior councilperson 1998-2003
Education: Juris Doctor
Candidate did not respond to questions.
Judith Lynn Lee
Education: Bachelor's of Media Communications Radio/Television
Candidate did not respond to questions.
Bill Mowery
Candidate did not respond
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Norton Voter Guide: Meet the candidates for mayor, council
