Most Massillon council incumbents score re-election
MASSILLON – Republicans are in line to retain their majority on City Council, after voters chose Tuesday night to keep most incumbents in office.
Overall, the GOP will have a 7-3 advantage going into the new year.
Full ballot: Dozens of Massillon candidates running for city office in Nov. 7 general election
Fresh faces on Massillon City Council will be Democrat Eric Ray in Ward 2; Republican Mike Slater as council president; and Republican Sarita Cunningham as an at-large councilwoman.
"It's a bittersweet night (with some Democrat losses)," Ray said minutes after learning he won Tuesday. "God put us in position to be a voice for the people. I'm ready to go to work."
Ray finished with 51% of the Ward 2 vote, or 667 votes, according to unofficial results posted Tuesday night by the Stark County Board of Elections. Incumbent Aaron Violand scored 650 votes, or 49%.
In the City Council president's contest, Slater unseated incumbent President Claudette Istnick, an independent, while also finishing ahead of fellow challenger J. David Ress, the Democrat candidate.
The final tally had Slater with 4,256 votes, or 45%; Ress with 3,104, which was good for 33%; and Istnick was third with 2,108 votes, or 22%.
Cunningham was the high vote-getter in the six-candidate race to fill three at-large council slots. She came in with 4,511 votes, or 18%.
Incumbent at-large councilmen Ed Lewis IV, a Republican, and Ted Herncane, a Democrat, also finished in the top tier, winning re-election. At-large Councilman Jamie Slutz, a Republican, won the mayor's race Tuesday.
"I am honored by the support of the people of Massillon to continue serving on council," Herncane said. "I also look forward to working with Mayor-elect Slutz to address concerns."
Added Lewis, "I'm very excited to serve the people of Massillon for the next two years."
More Massillon ward race election results
In Ward 1, incumbent Republican Councilman Mark Lombardi won his third straight term, defeating Democrat William E. Walker. Lombardi notched 1,026 votes, or 55%, to Walker's 829, or 45%.
The Ward 3 race pitted Councilman Mike Gregg, a Republican, against challenger Lynda Blankenship, a Democrat. Gregg finished with 945 votes, or 56%, to Blankenship's 752, or 44%.
Incumbent Ward 4 Councilwoman Jill Creamer, a Democrat, was successful in her bid for a fifth consecutive term. Creamer received 655 votes, or 54%, to challenger Jennifer Horner's 550, or 46%.
First-term Councilwoman Julie Harwig-Smith, a Ward 5 Republican, finished ahead of Democrat challenger Timothy E. Farris. Harwig-Smith nabbed 836 votes, or 59%, to Farris' 580, or 41%.
Michael Snee, another first-term Republican, finished ahead of Democrat David K. McCune in Ward 6. Snee received 1,075 votes, or 60%, to McCune's 708, or 40%.
Massillon auditor race goes to Democrat John Ferrero
In the open seat for Massillon auditor, former Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, a Democrat, outdueled Republican hopeful John Snee.
Ferrero received 5,317 votes, or 56%. Snee received 4,192, or 44%.
Retiring Auditor Jayne Ferrero is John Ferrero's sister-in-law.
John Ferrero served as Stark County prosecutor from 2003 to 2020. He worked as Massillon law director from 1988 to 2003.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Most Massillon City Council incumbents earn new terms in Tuesday vote
