6 Democrats. 1 Republican. See who's running for Canton mayor

Kelly Byer, The Repository
·2 min read

CANTON − Six Democrats and one Republican have filed petitions with the Stark County Board of Elections to run for Canton mayor.

The partisan candidates who will appear on the May 2 ballot, as long as the board confirms they have enough valid petition signatures, are:

  • Democrats Thomas E. West, Bill Smuckler, William V. Sherer II, Matthew S. Harman, Willis Gordon and Kimberly Bell

  • Republican Roy Scott DePew

Democratic Mayor Thomas Bernabei is not seeking re-election after his second term ends this year. Nine people pulled petitions to be the next city leader but two Republicans did not file by the Wednesday afternoon deadline.

West is a former Canton councilman and served three terms as the state representative for the 49th House District. He lost his most recent re-election bid for the newly redrawn district to Republican Jim Thomas of Jackson Township.

Smuckler is a current at-large councilman and the council majority leader. He's served on City Council in various roles for a total of more than 30 years.

Sherer has been the council president since late 2018 and is the business manager of Ironworkers Local 550.

Gordon is the Ohio NAACP's veterans affairs chairman and previously worked for the Stark County NAACP. He has volunteered for political campaigns but not held office.

Bell, Harman and DePew also are political hopefuls who have not been elected before.

More election coverageCanton Mayor Thomas Bernabei announces he will not seek reelection

Other council races

Because Sherer is campaigning for mayor, it leaves the position of council president vacant. Democratic candidates Kristen Bates Aylward, the city's former law director, and Vince Watts, a former president of the Greater Stark County Urban League, filed petitions for the presidency.

Smuckler's campaign also opens an at-large council seat. City Council has three at-large members.

Democratic incumbents James Babcock and Louis P. Giavasis are seeking re-election. Five other Democratic candidates ― Nathaniel Chester III, Joe Cole, Doug Prestier, Nicholas J. Rinaldi and Crystal Smith ― and two Republicans ― Kerry Jane Dougherty and Leon Gerig ― have filed as at-large council candidates.

Incumbent Democrats in four council wards also will have primary election challengers. Councilwoman Chris Smith, D-4, will face George Lancaster; Councilman Peter D. Ferguson, D-8, will face Richard Sacco; and Councilman Frank Morris III, D-9, will face Brian Horner.

Councilwoman Brenda Kimbrough, D-2, is seeking re-election as a Democrat and will be challenged in the general election by Republican Patrick G. Wyatt.

The Democratic council representatives for Ward 1, Ward 3, Ward 5, Ward 6 and Ward 7 are unopposed in their re-election bids.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 6 Democrats and 1 Republican running for Canton mayor