2023 Voter Guide: Portage County township elections
Welcome to the 2023 Voter Guide produced by the League of Women Voters and published by the Record-Courier.
This article covers contested township races, although the vast majority are not contested.
This year's primary election on Nov. 7 will see Ohioans voting for local offices and issues. Early voting is taking place at the Portage County Board of Elections, 449 S. Meridian St. Ravenna, through Nov. 5.
Responses are not edited, vetted or corrected by the League of Women Voters or Record-Courier to allow candidates to speak in their own words.
Atwater Township Trustee
John B. Kovacich
Candidate has not responded.
Dale A. Wiley
Candidate has not responded.
Atwater Township Fiscal Officer
Emily Lashley
If the trustees asked the fiscal officer if there are enough funds for a major project, what factors would you consider in preparing your response? I would take in consideration how quickly the funds needed to be paid out. I would look at any project spending that may already be scheduled. Also, I'd ask if this would be a loan with payment and interest, or if this is a lump sum payment. Finally, I would factor in if this spending would have any negative impact on the townships financial situation in the near future.
What do you consider to be the most important responsibilities of the Fiscal Officer? The most important responsibility of the Fiscal Officer would be to accurately and efficiently maintain and record all financial actions taken by the township. Including but not limited to, paying out approved spending in a timely manner. Also, to communicate clearing with all township departments in order that everyone is spending within their allotted budget.
Teri Weber Zachariah
Candidate has not responded.
Brimfield Township Trustee
Sue Fields
Training & Experience: Ohio Township Association Leadership Academy Graduate, Portage County Leadership, Various HR related OTJ Seminars
Education: Stark Techinal College-Business Adminstration - 27 years Brimfield Township Trustee Serving our Community
What do you see as the most important issue facing your Township and how do you propose addressing it? In my opinion, the completion of the Fire Station project is the most important short-term issue. I will continue to work with the County, the Architect and the primary Contractor for completion of the planned construction. Due to the diminished material supply chain, we have had to make changes in materials used which takes my coordination between all parties involved. According to the Architect and Contractor we should be move in ready by years end if not sooner.
Identify the challenges facing your Township and your recommendations for solving them. Planned and controlled economic development presents a continual challenge. We have developed a land use plan that was designed according to resident surveys. See https://brimfieldohio.gov/economic-development/. Our current primary challenge within the plan is water and sewer service on State Route 43 between Kent and Howe Road. I will support the plan developed by our residents in all aspects.
How has your Township adjusted for the loss of local government funds? Our department heads design and submit their budget plans according to projected revenue. If revenue is lost, we tighten our belts without reducing service to our residents. Anything requested outside the budget must be applied for through Grants from private and public entities.
Bob Losey
Training & Experience: Over 43 yrs at Goodyear in various leadership positions. Part of that was interacting with various government agencies on introducing new technology.
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio Northern Univ. and a masters degree in business administration from Kent St.
What do you see as the most important issue facing your Township and how do you propose addressing it? Our township has been growing rapidly so we have to keep growing the services to keep up. We have passed levies for road maintenance, police and fire. It is time to start looking at other services (such as parks and library) and see how we can supply them as economically as possible. Ideally, I would like to do it without increasing the cost to residents. That would mean looking for grants, donations and collaborations with other agencies.
Identify the challenges facing your Township and your recommendations for solving them. We have some underutilized or under advertised resources that is would be good to see utilized more. One such example is Lions Park. There are 2 playgrounds, a shelter, a pavilion, 2 baseball fields, a couple soccer fields, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court and a nice path through the woods. There is a paved pad that could very economically be converted to a couple of pickleball courts. They also have free concerts there in the summer. Even with all of that, I seldom see many people there. I think that it is mostly a matter of making people aware of the opportunities and maybe making some more structured activities. Maybe some structured youth events, organized volleyball leagues, a free learn to play pickleball event, etc. As an example, for the learn to play pickleball event, we could get a volunteer to lead the discussion and have enough paddles on hand for people to use. We could also solicit volunteers for other events as well.
How has your Township adjusted for the loss of local government funds? Our township, Brimfield, has formed a Joint Economic Development (JED) agreement with Tallmadge. This includes the businesses that have started in the old Maplecrest golf course area. We have also voted in a few levies for road maintenance, police and fire.
James McKey
Write-in candidate has not responded.
Deerfield Township Trustee
Mark P. Bann
Candidate has not responded.
Stephanie Barringer
Education: Southeast High School, Bohecker's Business College, Kent State University
Training & Experience: I have been self-employed around 20 years. I know the necessity of integrity, honesty and transparency to make growth possible.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephaniebarringerfordeerfieldtrustee
What do you see as the most important issue facing your Township and how do you propose addressing it? Our most important issue is transparency! Our residents have asked for it for many years. We want to know what is going on. We want to know why decisions were made. The lack of transparency has had a negative effect on our township for far too long. The lack of transparency affects our growth immensely! We need growth and lots of it.
Identify the challenges facing your Township and your recommendations for solving them. The challenges facing our township are workable. Our township would have more resident and business support with better communication. Better communication begins with honesty and most importantly transparency. Transparency would be a great starting block to build the foundation needed for growth. Our township has so much to offer. We need three independent thinkers to bring what they have to the table and utilize the township assets.
How has your Township adjusted for the loss of local government funds? We could do better! We have just started to utilize grants. I have always questioned the lack of utilization of grant money. With a little hard work, we could have the ability to grow through grant funding in many different ways. I hope to help make this process more feasible.
Laura Lindberg
Education: A.A.S., University of Akron. Graduate, Southeast High School
Training & Experience: Grant Seeking Essentials Certificate. Member of Deerfield Historical Society, Deerfield Civic Association, Deerfield Cemetery Association, Ohio Farm Bureau, Deerfield United Methodist Church (Church Council and Lay Leader), served on the board of directors for COSCA, ICHA, WHAO (horse breed associations). Generational farmer, agricultural background. Deerfield business owner/farmer. Born and raised in Deerfield.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551617685261
What do you see as the most important issue facing your Township and how do you propose addressing it? One of the most important services Deerfield Township provides to it's citizens is emergency services. It's no secret that there has been much controversy involving our Fire Department. Promoting stability and staffing within the Fire Department is a top priority.
Identify the challenges facing your Township and your recommendations for solving them. There is a general disconnect between community leaders and the citizens. It is important to listen to the concerns of the residents. I would like to be a voice for the people without serving my own personal agenda. After a long absence of youth sports teams due to years of litigation over ownership of the park, it's great to see youth sports back in Deerfield. Deerfield has a long proud history of youth sports and I want to promote it's growth.
How has your Township adjusted for the loss of local government funds? I have three approaches to managing the loss of funding to Deerfield Township. We have wonderful township employees that we are able to utilize thier talents for in house repairs and maintenance to limit the outsourcing of costly projects. Deerfield is blessed to have organizations such as Deerfield Historical Society, Deerfield Civic Association, Deerfield Cemetery Association amongst others that are both willing to help out the township by donating time, talent, items and funding. I am a member of these clubs and will help bridge the gap between these associations and the township. I would like to use my certification in grant writing to identify and pursue potential grants for Deerfield, like I am currently doing for the Deerfield Historical Society.
Deerfield Township Fiscal Officer
Tracey Dean
Education: Graduate of alliance high school , Licensed, managing cosmetologist, completed, Workmen’s Comp. recordkeeping class
Training & Experience: I’ve kept business records, payroll of my own beauty shop, I did payroll, and kept records and billing for our own trucking company and landscaping business from 1990 to 2008 billing managing payroll at a Italian club in charge of ordering banking and payroll
If the trustees asked the fiscal officer if there are enough funds for a major project, what factors would you consider in preparing your response? I would have to consider all the townships financial obligations , check total balance on hand to see if the remaining money would be sufficient to fund that project without putting the township in financial jeopardy.
What do you consider to be the most important responsibilities of the Fiscal Officer? Keeping accurate and up-to-date financial records along with that would be to keep accurate minutes of meetings and communications.
Nick Lam
Candidate has not responded.
Mantua Township Trustee
John Festa
Candidate has not responded
Paul E. Moore
Education: 1972 Crestwood graduate
Training & Experience: 15 years at Mantua/Shalersville Fire Dept; 18.5 years at City of Aurora Maintenance & Facilities; Building Engineer degree & Boiler's license; 32nd degree Mason; Licensed CDL driver; Heavy Machinery Equipment Operator
What do you see as the most important issue facing your Township and how do you propose addressing it? It is vital that the Township trustees work closely with one another, are respectful of each other's opinions and collectively work together for the best interest of the residents and Mantua Township. Should I be elected, I plan to be an active trustee and bring my years of experience and knowledge to work in the best interest of the community working along with the other trustees. Mantua Township is a beautiful place to live and we need to work together to ensure that immediate needs are addressed and a long term strategic plan is in place and continually reviewed and adjusted.
Identify the challenges facing your Township and your recommendations for solving them. One of the big challenges Mantua Township faces today is concerning the future use of the former Mantua Township school building and the costs associated with the improvements needed to bring it up to code and make it functional again. This is a historical building in our community but comes with significant costs and challenges to upgrade and maintain. My recommendation would be to put together a volunteer committee consisting of local residence to assist the trustees with developing a long-term strategic plan, assist with seeking grants and develop plans for future use of the building.
How has your Township adjusted for the loss of local government funds? As a Mantua Township Trustee, it is important to find ways to value engineer and think outside the box at all times, especially when there is a loss of government funds. It is the duty of the trustees to be fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ funds, while continuing the run the township and make repairs to items such as the roads and cemeteries without allowing infrastructure to get to a point where it is too expensive to repair and requires replacement that the budget cannot afford. Developing a strategic plan and setting priorities that accounts for future loss in revenue is critical to this process.
Palmyra Township Trustee
Ricky D. Bennett
Education: Graduated from Waterloo H.S. Some college, many technical classes
Training & Experience: I retired from Sherwin Williams in 2016 after 30 years of service as a Maintenance Supervisor. Since 2016 I've been working part time for the Palmyra Twp. Road Dept. In July I was appointed to fill the recently vacated Trustee position.
What do you see as the most important issue facing your Township and how do you propose addressing it? Funding necessary projects within our budget is very challenging. Just one example of this is that roadway maintenance costs have risen by a third over last year, mostly due to increased material costs. After comparing multiple bids we elected to reduce the number of miles of roads paved to fit our budget. We continue to apply for available grants.
Identify the challenges facing your Township and your recommendations for solving them. With rising costs, replacing aging equipment is a major issue in Palmyra. We're trying to work within our budget to continue providing the best services that we can to the community. One way we do this is by servicing and maintaining our own equipment whenever possible. Staffing and retaining employees is a challenge that we are working together to remedy. We've gotten creative with work schedules and incentives that we hope will help with this.
How has your Township adjusted for the loss of local government funds? As a new trustee I hesitate to say we have "adjusted" to the loss of local government funds. I feel the previous trustees have always done a good job of managing our township budget. That being said, we continue to look for cost saving measures, apply for any available grants, hold fundraisers, and have reduced the number of Township clean up dates from twice a year to just once.
Robin Tittel
Candidate has not responded.
Rootstown Township Fiscal Officer
Stephanie Boyle
Candidate has not responded.
Linda Hankins
Education: Bachelor's in Accounting from Kent State University
Training & Experience: 35 plus years of banking, including investments, construction bookkeeping, accounts payable and fiscal specialist experience, treasurer and budget/finance committee member of several organizations. Attended the State of Ohio Auditor's Fiscal Officers' Conference March 2023.
If the trustees asked the fiscal officer if there are enough funds for a major project, what factors would you consider in preparing your response? There are several factors I would consider if the trustees asked me if there was enough funds for a major purchase. First I would consider if this project was within the ORC guidelines, then I would consider if the project had been budgeted for. If it hadn't been budgeted for then I would look at the unencumbered funds in the general fund to determine if there was sufficient funds to support the project. Once I had taken these steps I would notify the trustees if there was enough funds to support the major project. If there wasn't enough funds for the project I would look for alternative ways to funds the project, such as grants.
What do you consider to be the most important responsibilities of the Fiscal Officer? I feel some of the most important responsibilities of the Fiscal Officer are to review each bill for accuracy and timely payment of the bills and payroll. It's also important to keep accurate, organized financial township, payroll and personal records. I feel that it's important to be available and to keep open communications with the township trustees and department heads to answer their questions and concerns and respond to their needs and communicate any concerns I may have.
Tina Jenior
Candidate has not responded.
Shalersville Township Trustee
Jack R. Bias
Education: Masters Degree in Industrial Technology at Kent State University
Training & Experience: Retired from Chrysler after 30 years as an engineer. Retired from General Motors after five years as an engineer. While at GM, I supervised the Tool & Die Roo and their CAD/CAM department.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BiasForTrustee/
What do you see as the most important issue facing your Township and how do you propose addressing it? The most important issue facing the township is uncontrolled growth. The Land Use Survey sent out to the residents of Shalersville showed how important they regard this issue. 81% of the residents who responded do not want development along Infirmary Road, south of the turnpike. 71% do not want any development East of State Route 44 and North of the Ohio Turnpike with 69% not wanting the County Airport expanded. Only 8% of the residents are for the expansion, with the remainder indifferent or undecided. According to the Land Use Survey, Shalersville's residents like that Shalersville is rural, has wide open spaces, and is not like Streetsboro. They dislike the traffic, noise, airplane flights over residential areas, and solar wind farms. I would not support allowing apartments, condominiums, and high-density housing. I will support minimum lot sizes, and zoning prohibitions that would maintain the rural character of Shalersville Township.
Identify the challenges facing your Township and your recommendations for solving them. One of the challenges facing the Township is getting more resident involvement. Informing the residents will create more resident involvement. This could be accomplished with utilizing our digital sign in front of the Townhall, and a Social Media presence that is maintained and updated. In the past, the turnout would be standing room only for a controversial issue that was scheduled, and the public was notified. Does anyone remember the meeting with Mr. Morgan held a few years back about the airport expansion.
How has your Township adjusted for the loss of local government funds? The Township has adjusted and will continue to adjust to the loss of government funding, using a multi-faceted approach. The County informed Shalersville Trustees that they would begin collecting the $5.00 license plate fee that the township had declined to charge their residents. Shalersville reluctantly began collecting this fee; the residents were going to be charged in either case, it was only a matter of who received the money. The Township has received Grant money from several sources. The Township received grants for the removal of a house, for the park driveway and parking lot, for a walking trail, and for repair of Cooley Road. Frank Ruehr Jr. is working with the Portage County Engineers office for the possibility of road grants in 2024 and 2025. Another savings, I would not need the Township to provide any health care for me personally.
Rich McIntyre
Candidate has not responded.
Shalersville Township Fiscal Officer
Maude Bias
Training & Experience: I am the current, Shalersville Township Assistant Fiscal Officer, Secretary and Member Zoning Commission, Secretary Board of Zoning Appeal. Retired Manager of Financial Counseling at Robison Memorial Hospital. 5 years Office Manager Valley Health Center.
Facebook: Facebook.com/Biasforfiscalofficer
If the trustees asked the fiscal officer if there are enough funds for a major project, what factors would you consider in preparing your response? As the Assistant Fiscal Officer, I see the financial reports and know where to find them, to give the Trustees, educated answers to their questions.
What do you consider to be the most important responsibilities of the Fiscal Officer? The most important part of the job is to accurately maintain the township budget of over 1.5 million dollars and records.
Kristine R. Hunkus
Training & Experience: Fifteen years experience as the Fiscal Officer for Hartford Township, Trumbull County. Nine years experience working for the Trumbull County Engineer's Office.
If the trustees asked the fiscal officer if there are enough funds for a major project, what factors would you consider in preparing your response? I'd look to see how much was appropriated for the year, how much revenue is expected to come in, and what other expenditures are coming out of that fund (what we planned for the year).
What do you consider to be the most important responsibilities of the Fiscal Officer? To maintain the budget in a fiscally responsible way. Also, to make sure we are spending within the budget approved by the Trustees.
Windham Township Trustee
Craig Alderman
Candidate has not responded.
Brian Keith Miller
Candidate has not responded.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2023 Voter Guide: Portage County township elections
