'My time to say so long.' Catazaro-Perry leaves office after 12 year as Massillon mayor
MASSILLON – Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry's reelection bid took a decisive turn when the final votes rolled in on Nov. 7 in what she describes as a surprising conclusion.
"We weren't expecting that result, and were kind of in shock at the time," said Catazaro-Perry about the final vote tally, which put a cap on her 12-year run as mayor.
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It was a hard night for Catazaro-Perry after a solid run highlighted by years of downtown aesthetic and infrastructure upgrades, street and parks improvements and beefing-up city services.
Catazaro-Perry, a Democrat, led most of election night against challenger Jamie Slutz, a Republican at-large city councilman. She was up about 300 votes, or 19%, not long after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m.
But Slutz chipped away at Catazaro-Perry's lead through much of the night as result updates were posted by the Stark County Board of Elections. He finally nabbed a 4% victory around 10:30 p.m., surprising many in the incumbent mayor's camp.
"We were upbeat. Then all of a sudden, the last dump of votes came in and results turned," she said. "It was a sad night for me and my family."
Catazaro-Perry leaves office at the end of December, after serving three-consecutive terms of four years.
Her accomplishments as mayor are not lacking.
She cites adding amphitheater to Duncan Plaza, reopening Fire Station 3 on the city's northeast side and working for the Aultman Massillon emergency room among her top achievements over the years, and those she holds highest with esteem.
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"The amphitheater has become a beautiful gathering place for events and activity," Catazaro-Perry said. "We took on the (closed Affinity Medical Center) building and made a $1.5 million profit on that, while bringing in the (Aultman) ER. I'm proud of the work we've done."
City historian Margy Vogt said Catazaro-Perry's achievements are significant.
"One is updating and enhancing our downtown," Vogt said. "(But) on a deeper level, her spirit of kindness, collaboration and love of the community have been contagious."
Supporting the Massillon Museum, Massillon Public Library, as well as the history and aesthetics of the city and honoring local military veterans, also rank high on the list, Vogt said.
"I’m grateful for (Kathy's) leadership and friendship," she added.
Ice skating rink, splash park, walking trails among highlights under Catazaro-Perry
Other notable work mentioned by Catazaro-Perry includes adding free activities for families, such as an ice-skating rink on the city's west side, a splash park coming for 2024, walking paths at Reservoir Park and a playground at North Sippo Park.
Steering the city out of fiscal emergency in 2017 is another cited by Catazaro-Perry as a worthwhile development under her watch.
"The turnaround of our city financially was a good thing," she said. "To dig out and achieve a positive (budget) carryover the past few years is really something."
In 2019, Massillon's streetscape project was an extensive, multi-month effort for downtown. It was funded mainly by federal grants and totaled $2.22 million.
A few downtown businesses closed for weeks or months in summer 2019 due to vehicular traffic being shut down on Lincoln Way. The decorative brick M's placed in two downtown intersections are a main highlight.
According to the city's website, under Catazaro-Perry's leadership 68 miles of municipal roads have been resurfaced since 2012, and 2,147 catch basins have been repaired or replaced.
"There's a lot of good things we're leaving behind," she said. "We did some great work."
David Maley, the city's former economic development director, agrees, saying the mayor often logged long hours on the job.
"She busted her butt. Her efforts turned the city around," he said.
Longtime staffer remembers Catazaro-Perry as 'family oriented'
Maley began working with Catazaro-Perry about 11 years ago as a code-enforcement office. He later earned a promotion to economic development director.
Treating staff members with respect and like family were the norm with the mayor, Maley said.
"There were days she cooked breakfast and brought it in for us," he said. "She's one of the most compassionate and caring people I've ever met. It was an honor to work with her."
As for working side-by-side with Catazaro-Perry on many projects, Maley called her effort to bring new business to Massillon as paramount. He specifically cited the redo of the former Kmart property on Lincoln Way W with Space Shop Self-Storage, Aldi grocery store, 7-Brew Drive-thru Coffee and Chipotle.
"She's dynamic and a goal-getter," said Maley. "I'm proud of Massillon being a business-friendly city when companies came to us. We tried hard to cut the red tape."
Catazaro-Perry: No more runs coming for public office
After 12 years in the mayor's chair, Catazaro-Perry said, she has no plans to seek any local political office, at least in the foreseeable future.
Prior to her election as mayor, Catazaro-Perry served as councilwoman in the city's Ward 3 seat for eight years. She rejected any notion of running for City Council again or jumping into a Stark County commissioner's race down the road.
"I have no interest in running," the mayor said. "I'm going to pause for a moment and enjoy the holidays. I panicked (after the November election) because I've always worked, but I'm over that.
"Whatever I do next (professionally), it will be something to help people," she added.
Focusing on family is the immediate priority, said Catazaro-Perry, who is a mother of four and has seven grandchildren.
"I want to refocus on all of them," she added. "They sacrificed so much for me to be mayor, and it's their turn again. ... It's my time to say so long."
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Outgoing Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry highlights last 12 years
