2023 Voter Guide: Tallmadge council primaries contested in 2 wards
Welcome to the 2023 Voter Guide produced by the League of Women Voters and Akron Beacon Journal with funding from the Knight Foundation.
There are two contested primaries May 2 for seats on Tallmadge City Council with Democrats Ted W. Roy and Craig B. Sisak running in Ward 1 with the November election currently uncontested.
Republicans Bill Laymon and Donald J. Pavlik are running in Ward 2, where the winner will face Democrat Jessica Epstein in November.
Council seats in Ward 3 and 4 are uncontested.
This year's primary election will see Ohioans voting for local offices and local issues. Early voting is taking place at the Summit County Board of Elections Early Vote Center, 500 Grant St., Akron.
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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Tallmadge City Council is responsible for providing leadership and guidance to the community, facilitating communication between the community and the council, determining policy, planning for the city's future, managing assets, governing finances, reviewing policy and attending meetings.
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2023 Election: Summit County Voter Guide
Tallmadge Ward 1
Ted W. Roy
Party: Democrat
Training/Experience: 45 Years
Education: Akron U Alumni
Current Occupation: Business Owner Roy's Stow Travel
Why are you the best candidate for the office? 46 years in Business. I will be accountable and accessible for the City of Tallmadge.
What is your vision for economic development for your community over the next ten years? Candidate did not respond.
What are the most significant issues facing your community and what ideas do you have to address these issues? Candidate did not respond.
Craig B. Sisak
Party: Democrat
Training/Experience: 10 years as Ward 1 on Tallmadge City Council, Vice President of Council x 4 years, Chair Finance Committee x 6 years
Education: BS- Biology, MS Physical Therapy, MBA
Current Occupation: Department of Orthopedics Administration at Akron Children's Hospital
Why are you the best candidate for the office? Growing up around politics, I have been exposed to city government most of my life. My 10 years of experience on City Council is critical at this point, as we anticipate a new Mayor come January 2024. My education and professional experience provides a robust perspective and understanding of personnel management, process improvement initiatives, patient care concerns and fiscal responsibility. As the senior member of City Council, I have steadfastly represented the residents of Tallmadge. I have never been afraid to ask tough questions or disagree with my peers or administration. I value the input of my constituents and advocate for them as necessary. I am accountable for my actions and attempt to hold others accountable as well. My involvement in the community remains strong and constant. I will complete my 4 year term if re-elected and promise to continue providing the same exceptional level of representation to the residents of Tallmadge.
What is your vision for economic development for your community over the next ten years? I anticipate the completion of the Tallmadge/Brimfield JEDD, which will require further investment within the City of Tallmadge borders to retain, attract and grow our business community. First, our City needs a full-time Director of Economic Development, staff members and budget to deliver results. Second, the City needs to re-visit our community plan for business development. There are several areas within the City with potential for economic development that supports small business growth. I believe that we have options for tax abatements and new jobs incentives that have been underutilized in recent years. I feel working with our surrounding communities and Summit County will lead to improved economic development, retention and support of current businesses in the city. I look forward to redeveloping all of the main business corridors with proper infrastructure including sidewalks, improved access to properties, signage, and traffic flow about town.
What are the most significant issues facing your community and what ideas do you have to address these issues? The City of Tallmadge is fortunate to have excellent safety services, police and fire department. In addition, our service department maintains our infrastructure (water, sewer, roads) in a first-class manner. With that being said, I believe that Tallmadge is facing a staffing crisis within each of these departments. Just like the private sector, it has been difficult to recruit and retain great talent for our police, fire and service departments. I foresee an opportunity to better manage and staff our departments. The City will need to begin thinking outside the box in terms of personnel management, retention and recruitment. By supporting our current employees, developing them, supporting them, it will transcend to our recruitment efforts. I believe in treating employee like they make a difference, and they will! Our greatest asset is our employees, who are also our greatest recruiters. Come work in for City of Tallmadge, move your family here and live amongst friends and family.
Tallmadge Ward 2
Jessica Epstein
Party: Democrat
Training/Experience: As a former community manager serving multifamily housing, engaging with residents, and ensuring their concerns were heard and addressed, as well as managing the property budget were two main responsibilities. Currently, I am an IT Project Manager for a multi-family housing company. In this role, I identify problems within the business and leverage technology to improve operations and help ensure the business operates efficiently and effectively.
Education: BS from Kent State University
Current Occupation: IT Project Manager
Website: jessica-epstein.com
Facebook: facebook.com/EpsteinForTallmadgeCouncil
Why are you the best candidate for the office? I believe in several key principles. First, I believe in being accessible to the community and intend to prioritize communication and engagement with Tallmadge residents. Second, I intend to bring my experience managing multi-family apartment communities to this role. Having experience managing large budgets demonstrates a strong understanding of financial management, and an ability to make sound financial decisions that benefit the community. I intend to prioritize financial efficiency and sustainability in decision-making processes, with a focus on avoiding unnecessary expenditures and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used effectively. Third, I’m committed to the time and energy required to be an effective City Council member. This means engaging constructively during council meetings, staying up-to-date on local issues, and engaging the community on a regular basis. Overall, I’m committed to being an accessible, responsible, and community-focused City Council member.
What is your vision for economic development for your community over the next ten years? My vision emphasizes the importance of fostering innovation & entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. It should be customer-focused & prioritize the needs & desires of local community over organizational interests. I will serve as a local champion, bringing together key stakeholders to collaborate on economic development initiatives. I recognize that while much of the work will happen at the local level, partnerships with other levels of government will be necessary to obtain resources & support. In order to foster community investment, economic prosperity, & resiliency, I believe that economic development resources & responsibilities must be realigned. This means allowing the local community to set its own priorities while working collaboratively to achieve shared goals. Overall, my vision emphasizes grassroots innovation, customer-focused initiatives, & collaborative partnerships. By working together, I believe Tallmadge can become a more prosperous & resilient community for all.
What are the most significant issues facing your community and what ideas do you have to address these issues? Access to reliable cell phone service is an important issue, especially when it comes to receiving critical calls related to health and safety. Ultimately, improving cell phone service requires cooperation and collaboration between the city, cellular providers, and the community. By holding providers accountable, encouraging competition, building public-private partnerships, and raising awareness, the City of Tallmadge can work towards improving cell phone service and ensuring that residents have access to reliable communication.
Bill Laymon
Party: Republican
Candidate did not respond.
Donald J. Pavlik
Party: Republican
Candidate did not respond.
Tallmadge Ward 3
Jonathon D. Bollas
Party: Republican
Candidate did not respond.
Tallmadge Ward 4
Mary Gutman
Party: Democrat
Candidate did not respond.
Justin J. Summers Sr.
Party: Republican
Candidate did not respond.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2023 Voter Guide: Tallmadge council primaries contested in 2 wards
