Portage Voter Guide 2022: Meet candidates for commissioner, auditor and judge

Welcome to the 2022 Voter Guide produced by the League of Women Voters and published by the Record-Courier.

This story focuses on countywide races in Portage County for commissioner, auditor and two judicial seats.

Customized ballots based on your address may be found at Vote411.org.

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.

Complete election coverage can be found on Record-Courier.com.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Geraldine Hayes Nelson

Party: Democrat

Website: www.drnelsonforportage.com

Training & Experience: 27 years of higher education experience as an administrator and executive HR experience

Education: Bachelor, Master and Ph.D in Higher Education

What training, experience and characteristics qualify you for this position? I have served in a variety of leadership roles both professionally and personally. I have served as a leader in Portage County for over 30 years. My commitment to the community is validated through my years of service on various community, state, and national boards. I have advocated for Federal Funds for over 20 plus years on behalf of first-generation low-income families and students. I have a proven track record of trustworthy public service based on fairness and transparency. I will work to get the right people in the right seat to make the best and most informed decisions. I am a recognized leader across the academic, community, and non-profit organizations. I bring my extensive background in executive management and leadership as a retiree from Kent State University, the largest employer in Portage County. My overall training across multiple counties and statewide leadership qualifies me for this position.

What would be your top priorities as commissioner? I plan to advocate for enhanced access to community services and community health centers, with enhanced accountability and accessibility to services across the county. As a leader, it is important to spend time listening to the people. If elected, I will continue to be a strong voice in my community for “the people” and those who are the most vulnerable. Attention to veterans, youth, senior citizens, and citizens in our townships is an area where attention must be granted in moving the county forward. As a former Public-School Teacher and University Administrator, I will continue to work on the issues of equal access, (broadband) by bridging the digital divide in our rural communities. In my role, I will work to promote Honesty, transparency, and accountability in funding allocations. Develop metrics of assessment and accountability of services and funding allocations on behalf of the citizens.

Mike Tinlin

Party: Republican

Website: TinlinforPortage.com

Training & Experience: Advanced Police and Fire Administrative Training. 25 year Instructor in Law Enforcement and Fire Arms. Acting Fire Chief and City Council Member for Streetsboro. Retired Chief of Police.

Education: Graduate from James A. Garfield, The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and The Ohio Fire Academy. The FBI National Academy #205 Association with University of Va.

What training, experience and characteristics qualify you for this position? My decades of experience in public service to citizens, combined with years of civic engagement allows me to offer a fresh, balanced approach to County initiatives.

What would be your top priorities as Commissioner? Keep the office in full Transparency. Balanced approach to all County Business. Meet with Department Heads to work on a Proactive mission and stop Reacting. My door will always be open. Setting up Coffee meetings Morning and Night so all can attend and listen to the needs of our County Residents.

COUNTY AUDITOR

Brad Cromes

Party: Democrat

Website: bradcromes.com

Training & Experience: Portage County Treasurer, 2015-Present; Certified Government Financial Manager (Assoc. of Government Accountants); Board Treasurer, Community Action Council; Past Chair, Portage Co. United Way; Member, Portage Co., Ohio and American Bar Associations

Education: B.A. Political Science (Hiram College) M.A. Public Policy & Management (Ohio State) J.D. w/ Public Service Fellowship (Ohio State)

What training, experience and characteristics qualify you for this position? I have served as Portage Co. Treasurer since 2015, and in that role I have sought to be an innovative, transparent steward of our tax dollars. That includes modernizing our service delivery to incorporate new technologies, utilizing social media and the web to share information about our office's operations directly with residents, and creating new programs to address unmet needs (including our award-winning and first-of-its-kind Financial Wellness Fair). I have also worked to systematize our office's processes to make them fairer and easier to understand. As Treasurer, I also have a unique perspective on the operations of the Auditor's Office based on our daily interactions, and have some ideas for how we might grow our capacity to assist our residents and communities. I have a track record of delivering positive change and strong, friendly service, and I am ready to bring that approach to bear in the Auditor's Office.

If elected, how would the auditor’s office operate differently from how it operates now? Why? Our current Auditor has a well-earned reputation for customer service and strong audit and accounting performance, and I will do everything in my power to preserve and enhance that reputation. That will include utilizing technology to meet residents where they are with information about office operations, regular outreach on social media and in-person, and livestreaming as many of our meetings as possible so residents get information straight from the source. I also want to analyze our reporting tools, and look for additional ways to make them easy to understand and citizen-centric. I believe the Auditor should be a collaborative leader, and will work to build partnerships with other county officials to improve services and standardize best practices. We should expect fairness and transparency from our public servants, too, and for that reason I want to review our assessment practices and regularly share more with the public about how that process works and why valuations vary.

Matt Kelly

Party: Republican

Website: www.facebook.com/mattkellyforportagecountyauditor

Training & Experience: 14 years as Mogadore Councilman, Board of Directors for Goodwill, Small business owner (FitCamp Fitness)

Education: Bachelor's Degree - Business Administration, Walsh University, North Canton

What training, experience and characteristics qualify you for this position? I have 14 years public service experience on Mogadore, Council, Business Administration Bachelor’s Degree from Walsh University in North Canton. My current full-time job is Environmental, Health and Safety Manager at Goodyear Race Tires. I am a veteran with 23 years’ service to my country as a firefighter in the U.S. Air Force that taught me servant leadership and management skills.

If elected, how would the auditor’s office operate differently from how it operates now? Why? Current and long time Portage County Auditor, Janet Esposito, has endorsed me as well as U.S. Congressman David Joyce and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. I would carry on the open-door policy that Janet has made a standard at the Auditor’s office. My vision is to make it as easy as possible to do business with the Auditor’s office. The current staff at the Auditor’s office, I’ve met them several times, is very engaged and I will depend on them for ideas about improving systems and processes that will help the citizens of Portage County work with the Auditor’s office.

COMMON PLEAS JUDGE

Wesley Buchanan

Education: Juris Doctor, University of Akron School of Law (2012) Heidelberg College, Bachelors of Science in Economics (2003)

Website: buchananforjudge.com

Work Experience: Erb Legal - Partner - 2020 until Present Buchanan Law, Inc - Partner - 2013 until 2020

Why are you running for this particular court seat? Portage County has a felony drug court, HOPE Court. The drug court has had success and reduced recidivism. Those persons who are eligible for the drug court should have the opportunity to access it. By becoming your next Portage County Common Pleas Court Judge, I will have the opportunity to serve my fellow residents by providing prompt and fair administration of justice. Portage County Courts should be open, respectful, and serve the community. Portage County deserves a judge who will consistently and faithfully follow the law.

Laurie J. Pittman

Education: Ravenna High School, Akron University, Ohio Northern Law School Campaign

Website: reelectjudgepittman2022.com

Work Experience: Enlow and Stevens Law Firm (4 years), Stevens and Pittman Law Firm (6 1/2 years), Portage County Municipal Court (7 years), Portage County Common Pleas Court (17 years)

Why are you running for this particular court seat? I am the most experienced candidate. I love my job! I have been very successful in protecting the community and helping defendants change their lives for the better.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS JUDGE

Paula C. Giulitto

Candidate did not respond.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 2022 Portage County Election: Here are the candidates for key races