Kent Voter Guide: Meet candidates for contested council primaries on May 2
There are two contested Democratic primaries for Kent City Council ward seats on the May 2 primary ballot.
No Republicans have filed for the seats, meaning the primary winner will likely be uncontested in the November general election.
More: May 2 primary ballot includes 10 community and school tax issues in Portage County
The information in this article was supplied by the candidates to the League of Women Voters. 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.
Additional information is available at Vote411.org.
WARD 1
Ward 1 covers northwest Kent north of Fairchild Road and west of the Cuyahoga River and the area north of West Main Street and east of Majors Road to the river.
Melissa Celko
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090711304276
Training & Experience: 30 + years in healthcare, tech, wellness and leadership, trained in non-clinical mental health and wellness.
Education: MBA & BA from Ursuline College
What issues are high priority for your city in the next few years and what is your take on solutions? To make Kent is the best place to live, work and play. Kent should be known as a safe and equitable community where everyone feels welcome. This means a great place to live with diverse housing options, a welcoming environment for visitors with lots to do and a place where companies and entrepreneurs what to build businesses. Key issues that cities all over the country are facing and Kent is no exception, are addressing disparity, pedestrian safety, climate action and repair our streets and aging utility infrastructure.
Benjamin Tipton
Education: BA, Kent State University; MA, University of British Columbia
What issues are high priority for your city in the next few years and what is your take on solutions? I call Kent home and I'm highly committed to the success of this community. You may see me walking to work at Kent State University every day, rain or shine. My kids attend Kent City Schools. My family is deeply rooted in this place and we seek to serve and support all the amazing people and progress of this city. I've been very involved with City of Kent volunteer boards over the past 8 years, having served for 6 1/2 years on the Board of Zoning Appeals, 3 years on the Fair Housing Board, and most recently on the Salary Review Committee. I've learned a lot from these experiences and have also seen what issues need addressed in our fair city. I am running for City of Kent Ward 1 Council to help ensure that the town the I live and work in continues to develop in a positive way. The changes to our town over the past 15 years have improved many facets of life in Kent and I look to support similar activities.
WARD 6
Ward 6 covers northeast Kent east of the Cuyahoga River and north of east main, excluding downtown, and areas east of campus.
Jeff Clapper
Campaign Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/202077045844724/
Training & Experience: Planning Commission member for the City of Kent since 2017
Education: Graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School Class of 1995
What issues are high priority for your city in the next few years and what is your take on solutions? I think the most important issue that can be addressed is making sure each and every resident of Kent know that they are fundamental to the success of the city. It is very easy to look at all the redevelopment of downtown and see growth, resurgence and our tax dollars at work. I want to make certain that we can look at our neighborhoods to see the same success and efforts being made. Streets, Sidewalks and Safety! Those are the three things I hear comments about the most and think we can easily make improvements upon. We can do a better job paving and maintaining roads. Sidewalks must be in good repair and free of obstructions like over grown hedges or parked cars. I'd like to see an increased police presence in neighborhoods not only to deter crime but to catch the abundant speeders and stop sign runners that put people at risk. To achieve any success here or with any other issue I plan to be a conduit for residents to communicate their concerns and address them quickly as possible.
Tracy Wallach
Training & Experience: 15 years on Kent City Council
Education: BA Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan, MA Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
What issues are high priority for your city in the next few years and what is your take on solutions?
CLIMATE CHANGE: A colleague of mine and I pushed to require all future City buildings to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. Since this requirement was passed, two new Leed compliant City buildings have been constructed. Council directed City management to work on a Climate Action Plan. This plan is focused on reducing Kent's greenhouse gas emissions. I drive an electric car.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent City Council: 2 ward races contested in May election
