Dozens of hopefuls seek election in Portage cities, villages, townships and school boards

Wednesday was the filing deadline for nearly all candidates to file petitions with the Portage County Board of Elections for the November election.

Hopefuls for township trustees, village council and boards of education all sought a place on the November ballot. Wednesday's filings will be certified Aug. 21.

In Aurora, those who want a seat in city government have until Aug. 24 to file their petitions. They will be certified Sept. 1.

City races in Ravenna, Kent and Streetsboro

In Ravenna, there were no write-in candidates by Wednesday's deadline. Mayor Frank Seman, Law Director Frank Cimino, Council President Andrew Kluge and council members Christina West, Matt Harper and Tim Calfee all will run unopposed in November.

In Kent, there also were no write-ins. Sam Wagner previously filed petitions to run as an independent for City Council in Ward 4, but the petitions were invalid. Democrat Melissa Celka is running unopposed for Ward 1 council; Democrat Jack Amrhein has no opposition to keep his council seat in Ward 2; Democrat Robin Turner is unopposed to keep his seat on council for Ward 3; Democrat Chris Hook is opposing John Kuhar in Ward 4; Democrat Heidi Shaffer is unopposed in Ward 5; and Democrat Jeff Clapper is unopposed in Ward 6,

In Streetsboro, write-in Mohammed A. Shaikh is running for mayor, joining Jeff Fejes and incumbent Glenn Broska in the three-way race. Stacey Vadaj's petitions were invalidated in March.

In Ward 1, three write-in candidates, Marianne Glenn, Chris Masowick and Joe Yonish, are seeking the open seat on City Council. Glenn was appointed to the seat when Mike Lampa resigned from council, and Masowick and Yonish also sought the appointment.

In Ward 2, incumbent Anthony Lombardo is facing a challenge from Chris Yonish; in Ward 3, Jennifer Wagner is running unopposed; and in Ward 4, Brian Pearson and Lisa McDaniel are seeking the open council seat.

Village elections in Garrettsville, Hiram, Mantua, Sugar Bush Knolls and Windham

Voters also will elect officials in Portage County's five villages.

In Garrettsville, Mayor Rick Patrick is running unopposed. Sheri Johnson is unopposed in her bid for village council, as is Benjamin Coll, who is seeking a seat on the village's board of public affairs.

Hiram Mayor Lou Bertrand is unopposed in his bid for re-election, and both people running for two seats on village council, Ed Frab-Sweeney and Keith Holmes, are unopposed.

In Mantua, three people hope to be mayor: incumbent Linda Clark, councilwoman Tammy Meyer and Nicko Koutavas. Only one person, Kevin Maloney, sought one of the two open seats on village council.

In Sugar Bush Knolls, Jeffrey Coffee is unopposed in his bid for mayor; and Amy Mucha, Nate Mucha and Nicholas Jordan are unopposed in their bids for village council.

In Windham, three people are seeking to replace current mayor Scott Garrett, who is not seeking re-election. They are Lawrence Mac Cunningham Jr., who serves on village council; Mark Gavriloff and Sheila Moore. Garrett is running for one of two seats on village council, and Councilwoman Sherri Pennington is seeking the other.

Voters to select officials in Portage County townships

In Atwater, Terri Weber-Zachariah and Emily Lashley are running for fiscal officer, and John Kovacich and Dale Wiley are running for trustee.

In Brimfield, Fiscal Officer John Dalziel is unopposed in his bid for re-election, and Trustee Sue Fields is being challenged by Bob Losey for a seat on the board of trustees.

In Charlestown, Fiscal Officer Susan Forgacs and Trustee Bruce Lange are unopposed in their bids for re-election.

In Deerfield, Nick Lam and Tracey Dean are running for fiscal officer, and Stephanie Barringer, Laura Lindberg and Mark Bonn are running for one available trustee seat.

In Edinburg, Fiscal Officer William McCluskey is unchallenged, and Trustee Jeffrey Bixler also is running unopposed.

In Franklin Township, Fiscal Officer Lise Russell and Trustee Scott Swan are unopposed in their bids for re-election.

In Freedom, Fiscal Officer Jennifer Derthick is unopposed, but Trustee Jeffrey Derthick is facing a challenge from Matthew Ord Jr.

In Hiram, Fiscal Officer Eric Hankinson and Trustee Jack Groselle are unopposed in their bids for re-election.

In Mantua Township, Fiscal Officer Julie Pemberton is unopposed, and Trustee John Festa is being challenged by Paul Moore.

In Nelson, Fiscal Officer Kevin Cichan and Trustee Michael Kortan are unopposed in their bids for re-election.

In Palmyra, Fiscal Officer Kelly Harvey is unopposed, and Trustee Rickey Bennett is facing a challenge from Robin Tittel.

In Paris, Fiscal Officer Linda Shaulis and Trustee Edward Samec Jr. are unopposed in their bids for re-election.

In Randolph, Fiscal Officer Mary Rodenbucher and Trustees John Lampe and Nick Reynolds are unopposed in their bids to keep their seats.

In Ravenna Township, Fiscal Officer Gail Pittman and Trustee Hank Gibson are unopposed in their bids for re-election.

In Rootstown, Linda Hankins, Stephanie Boyle and Tina Jenior are running for fiscal officer, and Trustee Joseph Paulus is running unopposed for re-election.

In Shalersville, Kristina Hunkus and Maude Bias are running for fiscal officer, and Rich McIntyre and Jack Bias are running for trustee.

In Suffield, Fiscal Officer Lori Calcei and Trustee Jack Eldreth are unopposed in their bids for re-election.

In Windham Township, Fiscal Officer Casey Timmons is unopposed, and Trustee Brian Miller is facing a challenge from Craig Alderman.

School board races in Aurora, Crestwood, Field, Garfield, Kent, Ravenna, Rootstown, Southeast, Streetsboro, Waterloo and Windham

On the Aurora Board of Education, incumbants Tony Zayas and Mike Acomb are being challenged by Molly Schneider, Ryan Kray, Jennifer Klich and Alan Biggins for two seats. Miriam Conner is also seeking an unexpired term on the board.

On the Crestwood Board of Education, incumbents Bonnie Lovejoy, Karen Schulz and Tim Herron are being opposed by Monica Stouffer, Dan Tillett and Eric Hummel for three seats.

On the Field Board of Education, incumbent Larry Stewart is the only candidate for two seats on the board.

On the James A. Garfield Board of Education, Colleen Khairallah and incumbents David Vincent and Deral White are seeking three seats on the board.

On the Kent Board of Education, incumbents Rebekah Wright-Kulis and Alicia Crowe are being challenged by Jay Pattison-Vallen and Kevin Elrod for two seats on the board.

On the Ravenna Board of Education, incumbents Pamela Nation Calhoun and Michael Wisniewski are unopposed.

On the Rootstown Board of Education, incumbents Craig Mullaly and Amanda Waesch are unopposed.

On the Southeast Board of Education, board members Mary Kaley, Kevin Werschey and John Witkosky are being opposed by David Fesemyer and Erin Ahrens for three seats on the board.

On the Streetsboro Board of Education, five people are seeking three seats on the board. They are incumbent Tracy Campbell, Eric McDaniel, Kelly Rich, Tonia Epple and Jamie Jordan. Sara Scott also is seeking an unexpired term on the board.

On the Waterloo Board of Education, incumbents Patti Wittensoldner and Joseph Hickin are the only people seeking three seats on the board. Timothy Moon also is seeking an unexpired term on the board.

On the Windham Board of Education, incumbent Ted St. John and Megan Fisher are seeking two seats on the board.

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Dozens seek office in Portage County communities. Here's what we know