2023 Township Voter Guide: 8 races across Summit County on Nov. 7
Welcome to the 2023 Voter Guide produced by the League of Women Voters and Akron Beacon Journal with funding from the Knight Foundation.
Voters in these Bath, Copley, Northfield Center, Richfield, Springfield and Twinsburg townships will see contested races on their ballots Nov. 7.
Candidates in those races are listed and profiled below.
Early voting is taking place until 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
BATH TRUSTEE
Richard J. Bradner
Candidate did not respond
Elaina E. Goodrich
Education: Miami University, BA in civics and business
Training/Experience: Trustee for Bath Township, 28 years
Website: www.elainagoodrich.com
Why are you the best person for the job? First, my many years of experience as a Trustee are vital, particularly now as Bath’s two other trustees are new to their respective roles. My leadership and guidance provide direction for Bath and its future. Second, I will continue to work to control growth and development to preserve Bath’s rural- residential nature. Third, I have written more than 100 grant requests that have netted the township millions of dollars in funding or donations and I will continue to do so. Fourth, I am dedicated to always doing what is Best for Bath.
What are the top two issues you want to address if you are elected? First, as an elected official I oversee the day-to-day high-quality operations which ensures meeting the needs of the residents of Bath including police, fire, EMS, roads, zoning, cemeteries and parks. I will continue to keep Bath Township as a model of an efficient, fiscally responsible local government. Second, there remains the need to balance preserving the cultural and rural-residential character of Bath against excessive commercial and high-density residential development pressures.
If elected, what knowledge and skills will you bring that will benefit your community? First, as a Trustee, I implemented and supported Bath’s current Comprehensive Land Use Plan that guides growth and land-use development to keep Bath’s rural-residential character. This has allowed Bath to maintain its unique qualities during the past 25 years. Second, with my leadership skills I organized numerous citizen committees, including the Comprehensive Land Use Committee, Heritage Corridors of Bath, Bath Attractions, Trails and Greenways, Discovery Tour Committee, and North Fork Preserve of Bath Committee that enlist volunteers and input from community members. These committees emphasize the rural character of Bath keeping it foremost. Third, through my knowledge of zoning, I will balance future development efforts against the environmental impact in order to maintain our rural-residential character protecting and preserving Bath’s unique charm.
COPLEY TRUSTEE
Celeste Bognar
Candidate did not respond
Naureen Dar
Candidate did not respond
James Schulte
Education: Master of Taxation, Bachelor of Science Accounting, Associate Criminal Justice
Training/Experience: Military Veteran, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Valuation Analyst, former VP & Treasurer of Fortune 500 Companies
Website: www.schulteforcopley.com
Why are you the best candidate for the office? With 4 years under my belt as a Township Trustee, I’m experienced but not a life-long politician. During my 4-year tenure, the Township has made a lot of progress; but there is still a long way to go. Copley needs fiscal responsibility and I possess the education, training, professional designations, and financial experience needed for the job. Since my 1st election in 2019, my expertise has led to balance budgets, capital budgeting, limiting property tax increases (including those related to this year’s 31.4% bump in property valuation), and annual savings to the Township of millions. Copley needs economic development. My experience includes obtaining financing and guidance on many commercial development projects; from Chagrin Highlands to Akron’s Historic District. Since my election in 2019, the Township has had more economic development than ever before: a new Safety Center, trails, sidewalks, parking lots, new road, sanitary sewer extensions, new community center, etc.
What is your vision for economic development for your community over the next 10 years? We must continue to benefit from the excellent police, fire, and road services that we are accustomed to. The entire Township must have access to public drinking water, sanitary sewers, and choice of broadband. Residential neighborhoods will be connected to each other, as well as to commercial districts, by a network of trails and sidewalks. Copley Community Park will be expanded and there will be new parks within the Township. Existing commercial districts, such as Copley Circle, will be re-developed with commercial store fronts at street levels, residential living upstairs and off-street parking. The “mixed-use” of commercial and residential will be applied to other under-utilized, commercial property that will contain grocery stores, banks, shops, and eateries. All will thrive thanks to their proximity of residential dwellings and the network of pedestrian pathways. Sounds like fantasy; except it’s already started happening. See the full story at www.SchulteForCopley.com
What are the most significant issues facing your community and what ideas do you have to address these issues? People need drinking water and sanitary sewers. Through the JEDD agreement, Akron services parts of Copley. Nothing in the JEDD agreement requires us to source these services exclusively from Akron. For example, we solved the Copley Road sanitary sewer issue by connecting to the Summit County system instead of Akron. Similarly, we should look to other providers for drinking water & make Akron compete for our business. After all, the Barberton reservoir is in Copley. While most of the financial issues that the Township faced 4 years ago are now solved, the Road Department still can't fund its own capital needs. Since the Township turned down the 2022 effort for Limited Home Rule, we are now forced into the county-wide storm water district. All property owners will see a new tax on their property tax bills in 2024 and a portion of these taxes will find their way back into the Township. We need to set aside these funds for major equipment replacements and to fund leaf collection.
COPLEY FISCAL OFFICER
Linda Peiffer
Candidate did not respond
Greg Wheeler
Candidate did not respond
NORTHFIELD TRUSTEE
Samual Antonio Morgante
Candidate did not respond
Richard Reville
Candidate did not respond
RICHFIELD FISCAL OFFICER
Laurie Pinney
Training/Experience: 20 plus years' experience in township governmental operations and finance
Education: Bachelor's and Master's of Business Administration
Candidate did not respond to questions.
Vik Sandhu
Candidate did not respond
SPRINGFIELD TRUSTEE
Jeremy Caudill
Education: University of Akron
Training/Experience: Entrepreneur
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeremy.caudill.71?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Dean Young
Education: Springfield H.S.; BS degree, Malone College; JD degree Ohio State College of Law
Training/Experience: Served on Springfield School Board and on Lake Twp. Zoning Board of Appeals, prior to becoming a Springfield Twp Trustee, where I have served 16 years; In addition, practicing attorney for 40 years working with all kinds of people in many varied and difficult problems.
Website: dy3401.wixsite.com/dean-young-for-trust
Why are you the best candidate for the office? My sixteen years as a Trustee meeting the challenges, confronting the many, varied issues and serving proactively to seek ways to improve my community makes me the better choice. I have supervised the Police, Fire, Road and Zoning Departments of Springfield, an urban township with 52 full time employees serving 14,000+ residents. To do so presents a steep learning curve. In addition to supervising basic services, I have worked successfully to develop initiatives that have made Springfield a better place. My work serving people as an Attorney in my private practice has given me seasoned judgement, judicial temperament and taught me the importance of approaching all citizens with respect.
What is your vision for economic development for your community over the next 10 years? Springfield, like Coventry and Copley Townships entered JEDD agreements with Akron in 1994, believing the promise that Akron would provide resources like planning services and infrastructure to spur economic development in the Township. That has not resulted in Springfield, with the tax going 14/15th to the City, and 1/15th to the Township. Despite that, we must continue to press Akron to fulfill the purpose of the JEDD with special attention to our main corridors. Part of that effort is to identify areas that could support new development and fashion a new agreement for that purpose. In addition, we must continue to provide basic services, police and fire protection, with road improvements that support existing businesses. Aggressive actions, such as the lawsuit we pursued against the Quality Inn to eliminate public nuisance, encourages a positive environment for business growth.
What are the most significant issues facing your community and what ideas do you have to address these issues? Firstly, improvement of Springfield Lake’ water quality, an issue created over many years, requires long-term efforts. We have begun identifying sources of contamination through watershed study and testing of water treatment solutions, reforming land use policies to reduce storm water and runoff into the Lake; and are lobbying to obtain sanity sewer to residences around the Lake. We must develop green infrastructure to reduce inflows by securing property for preservation. Secondly, Limited Resources. Townships cannot levy an income tax and must rely on real estate taxes. To protect taxpayers, we must carefully manage our monies to effectively provide services, like leveraging our tax monies by obtaining grant funding when possible. I have initiated current applications before ODNR for funding extension of Lakefront Trail and one for preservation of Wetlands under the Clean Ohio grant program. We have recently received FEMA funding to increase staffing of fire and paramedic personnel.
TWINSBURG TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Caleb Ali
Training/Experience: 12 years working in education. 20+ years serving the community.
Education: Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Cleveland State University
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070301374130&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Why are you the best candidate for the office? I will work to ensure that our township services continue to improve to best serve our residents. I will bring transparency to the office so that our community knows what's going on at Township Hall. I will open channels of communication to get real input on township issues from my fellow Twinsburg Township residents.
What is your vision for economic development of your community over the next 10 years? My vision for economic development is one of balance. As the township continues to grow through investment and construction, we must still protect what makes this community beautiful.
What are the most significant issues facing your community and what ideas do you have to address these issues? We must be receptive to what our Twinsburg Township residents want our township to grow into for generations to come. We must expand our own youth and recreation programs, while also partnering with our neighboring communities to best serve the families of Twinsburg Township.
James C. Balogh
Training/Experience: Private sector leadership in roles as Director, Manager and Project Manager.
Education: B.A. Kent State University Media Communications and Political Science
Website: www.Facebook.com/Baloghtrustee
Why are you the best candidate for the office? I offer problem solving leadership. From my corporate management experiences I am able to identify areas of concern in our Township. Case in point - The Township is growing. It required daily hands on management. The remedy? Create the position of Township Manager. Then hire a person with the skills necessary to excel at that position. We identified an individual who was employed at a consulting firm engage by the Township to assist in zoning and land use. By hiring this individual we reduce consulting fees by $600,000.00 per year. The position of Township Manager brings in more in grant funding each year than the total compensation paid to the Township Manager. This also is an example to the excellent financial management I bring to the Township. Leveraging the financial strength of the Township by using JEDD funding, we enable multiple projects to be completed with no new taxes. I am a passionate community Trustee. I deeply care about our Township.
What is your vision for economic development of your community over the next 10 years? To expand the Joint Economic Development District. JEDD funds enable our Township to complete multiple projects without adding new taxes. Major projects include re-constructing roads in Twinsburg Heights and Marwell neighborhoods, as well as abate flooding on Marwell Road. JEDD funding enables the securing of matching funds for the grants we earn to make these improvements. JEDD funding also supports our recreation program, which includes two community gardens and for Township residents, payment of approximately 50% of the membership fees to eleven nearby recreation centers. These are a few of the projects enabled through JEDD funding. If we are able to expand the JEDD district and therefore encourage new businesses to locate here, it will increase the Township's ability to improve. The JEDD is a joint partnership with Twinsburg Township and the City of Reminderville.
What are the most significant issues facing your community and what ideas do you have to address these issues? Increase Township funding resource by expanding the JEDD. JEDD funds will become an enabler of so many potential but yet unidentified future projects. These are projects that our community will help identify. Adoption of Limited Home Rule per ORC 505.04 for the Township. This will enable more direct control to manage growth. Continue with road improvements in developments such as Kensington. Expand recreation by improving the playground at Holly Smith Park. Refresh Twinsburg Township square with new lighting and sidewalks.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2023 Township Voter Guide: 8 races across Summit County on Nov. 7
