What's on the Nov. 7 election ballot in Stark County: Here are the issues & candidates
Just a few days after Ohio's special August election, officials are already preparing for the next one.
Local issues and candidates in nonpartisan races had until 4 p.m. Wednesday to file with the Stark County Board of Elections to appear on the Nov. 7 ballot. The county board has until Aug. 21 to verify petitions and certify them for the general election. The deadline for write-in candidates is Aug. 28, which could add candidates to some races.
The packed ballot will feature partisan mayoral races in Canton and Massillon and nonpartisan races in the cities of Canal Fulton, Louisville, North Canton.
The townships will vote on a fiscal officer and a trustee seat, and the villages will decide on mayor and a member of council. Alliance's races appear to be uncontested, with the exception of a treasurer's office.
Among the issue filings were road levies in Lake, Pike, Osnaburg, Lawrence, Nimishillen, Lexington and Plain townships. Beach City, East Canton and Lawrence, Perry and Lexington townships are asking for levies for police. East Canton will seek a 6.6-mill renewal levy and 1.5-mill increase for its police department after the issue narrowly fell in the primary last spring.
School finances will be on the ballot in several communities. Petitions have been filed for levies in the Jackson Local, Massillon, Lake Local, Louisville and Perry Local school districts, as well as a $27.8 million bond issue for the North Canton City School District. Voters in the Lake, Louisville and Perry school districts rejected levies in the spring.
In Canton, Democrat William V. Sherer II won a five-person race in May and will square off with Republican Roy Scott DePew in the battle to become the city's next mayor.
The races for president of council, law director, auditor and most of the council ward seats will be uncontested. The council at-large race for three seats will include incumbent Democrats Louis Giavasis and James Babcock, political newcomer Crystal Smith, Republican Kerry Jane Dougherty and Richard Hart, who is running nonpartisan. Longtime at-large member Bill Smuckler isn't running again after an unsuccessful bid for mayor against Sherer.
In Ward 2, incumbent Democrat Brenda Kimbrough will face off against nonpartisan candidate Veronica Earley and Republican Patrick G. Wyatt.
Massillon will see a slew of contested races. Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry, a Democrat, will compete against Jamie Slutz, a Republican, in an effort to retain her post.
The president of council race will be between Democrat J. David Ress, Republican Mike Slater and incumbent Claudette Istnick, who is running nonpartisan. Six candidates are competing for three at-large seats on Massillon City Council: Democrats Holly Bryan-Huth, Ted Herncane and Robert Williams and Republicans Sarita Cunningham, Jason Hout and Ed Lewis, IV. Herncane and Lewis IV currently have seats on council. The third councilman at-large is Slutz, who is running for mayor.
In Canton Municipal Court, Dennis Barr and Kristen Donohue Guardado will square off for a judge's seat that currently belongs to Judge John A. Poulos. Poulos did not file for re-election. Incumbent Curt Werren will face a challenge from Earle E. Wise Jr., who previously served as a judge for the 5th District Court of Appeals based in Canton.
Other election race highlights:
Johnnie Maier, longtime Massillon Municipal clerk of court, will face challenger John Paquelet.
Jackson Township Fiscal Officer Randy Gonzalez did not file for re-election. His son, Kody Gonzalez, who is a member of the county board of elections, has filed to run for his father's seat. He faces challenger Melissa Stenger.
Contested mayor's races will occur in Canal Fulton, Beach City, East Canton, East Sparta, Hartville and Navarre. Longtime Navarre Mayor Robert Benson opted not to run again.
Regine Johnson, deputy director of the Stark County Board of Elections, said the board will meet at 4 p.m. at the board office on Aug. 21 to certify petitions for the upcoming election.
Candidates who filed to run in Stark County
(*) designates incumbent
D = Democrat
R = Republican
NP = Nonparty
NA = Newly appointed
Alliance
Mayor
Andy Grove (R) (NA)
President of Council
Arthur D. Garnes (R)*
Auditor
Kevin G. Knowles (R)*
Treasurer
David Smith (D)
Jack Madison (R)
Law director
Caitlyn Weyer (R)*
Council-At-Large (3 seats)
Kristopher Bugara (R)*
Jennifer Kiko (R)
Phillip Gerard Mastroianni (R)*
Ward 1 council
Sheila K. Cherry (D)*
Ward 2 council
Cindy C. King (D)*
Ward 3 council
Ed Lohnes (R)*
Ward 4 council
James Edwards (R)*
Canal Fulton
Mayor
Joseph Powers
Joe Schultz*
Council-At-Large (2 seats)
Tod W. Kendle
Scott M. Svab*
Jeanann M. VanDenberg
Canton
Mayor
William V. Sherer II (D)
Roy Scott DePew (R)
President of Council
Kristen Bates Aylward (D)
Auditor
Richard A. Mallonn (D)*
Law director
Jason P. Reese (D)*
Council-At-Large (3 seats)
James O. Babcock (D)*
Louis P. Giavasis (D)*
Crystal Smith (D)
Richard Hart (NP)
Kerry Jane Dougherty (R)
Ward 1 council
Greg Hawk (D)*
Ward 2 council
Brenda Kimbrough (D)*
Veronica Earley (NP)
Patrick G. Wyatt (R)
Ward 3 council
Jason Scaglione (D)*
Ward 4 council
Chris Smith (D)*
Ward 5 council
Robert Fisher Jr.(D)*
Ward 6 council
Kevin D. Hall (D)*
Ward 7 council
John Mariol (D)*
Ward 8 council
Richard Sacco (D)
Ward 9 council
Frank Morris III (D)*
Louisville
Council-At-Large (2 seats)
Joan Aljancic*
Mycha Mills
Richard Slackford*
Massillon
Mayor
Kathy Catazaro-Perry (D)*
Jamie Slutz (R)
President of council
J. David Ress (D)
Claudette Istnick (NP)
Mike Slater (R)
Auditor
John D. Ferrero (D)
John M. Snee (R)
Law director
Justin W. Richard (D)*
Council-At-Large (3 seats)
Holly Bryan-Huth (D)
Ted Herncane (D)*
Robert Williams (D)
Sarita Cunningham (R)
Jason Hout (R)
Ed Lewis IV (R)*
Ward 1 council
William E. Walker (D)
Mike Lombardi (R)*
Ward 2 council
Eric J. Ray (D)
Aaron J. Violand* (R)
Ward 3 council
Lynda Blankenship (D)
Mike Gregg (R)*
Ward 4 council
Jennifer Horner (NP)
Jill E. Creamer (D)*
Ward 5 council
Timothy E. Farris (D)
Julie Harwig Smith (R)*
Ward 6 council
David K. McCune (D)
Michael Snee (R)*
North Canton
Mayor
Stephan B. Wilder*
Council-At-Large (3 seats)
Matthew Stroia*
Stephanie Werren
Christina Weyrick*
Ward 1 council
Jamie McCleaster*
Ward 2 council
David Metheney*
Ward 3 council
Chuck Osborne
Melissa Owens
Ward 4 council
Herbert W. Beadle Sr.
John M. Orr*
Canton Municipal Court District
Judge of the Municipal Court, 1-1-24
Dennis E. Barr
Kristen Donohue Guardado
Judge of the Municipal Court, 1-2-24
Curt Werren*
Earle E. Wise, Jr.
Massillon Municipal Court District
Clerk of the Municipal Court
Johnnie Maier*
John Paquelet
Beach City
Mayor
John T. Hartman*
Mary Beth Yoder
Member of council (2 seats)
Trever Himes
Yvonne L. Luckring
Rodney McKenney
Gordon D. Snyder Jr
Kelly Turney
Brewster
Mayor
Charles Hawk*
Clerk-Treasurer
K. Kris King*
Member of Council (2 seats)
Scott Killy
Brett Long*
East Canton
Mayor
Eddie J. Budinski
David Spencer*
Member of council (2 seats)
Robert W. Belew, Sr.*
Nick Collins*
Sue Himes
East Sparta
Mayor
Sacha Stashak
Donald Stropki*
Clerk-Treasurer
Douglas L. Neading*
Member of Council (2 seats)
Jenna Hessedence*
Scott Muir*
Carl D Roush, Jr.
Hartville
Mayor
Cynthia Billings*
Theresa Muncy
Member of Council (2 seats)
Frank Gant*
Bev Green*
Tom Hough
Hills and Dales
Mayor
Mark J. Samolczyk*
Member of council (2 seats)
Christina Biasella
Eric Reckenbeil
Magnolia
Mayor
Travis Boyd*
Member of council (2 seats)
Grant Downes*
Scott A. Noble*
Meyers Lake
Mayor
Michael M. Labriola, Jr.*
Clerk-treasurer
Joe Harold*
Member of council (2 seats)
Michael Armstead
Steve Bacon
Niels Chievitz
Justin Greenfelder*
Minerva
Mayor
Timothy N. Tarbet*
Member of council (2 seats)
Matthew Kishman*
Nathan Meadows*
Navarre
Mayor
Justin G. Cline
Chauntelle Skirtich
Member of council (2 seats)
Carla Carl
Joshua D. Smith*
Waynesburg
Mayor
Douglas W. Welch*
Member of Board of Trustees of Public Affairs (2 seats)
Ladd Albery
David McCray
Member of council
Scott W. Anthony
Bethlehem Township
Fiscal officer
Jody Matics*
Trustee (1 seat)
Mark Dearing*
Ron Feucht
Jack Richard Flinner
Canton Township
Fiscal officer
John E. Ring*
Trustee
Keith J. Hochadel
Jackson Township
Fiscal officer
Kody Gonzalez
Melissa Stenger
Trustee (1 seat)
Deborah Busby
Richard Cosgrove II
Justin B. Hardesty*
John W. Ney, Jr.
David R. Ruwadi
Lake Township
Fiscal officer
Matthew Erb*
Trustee
John L. Arnold (R)*
Lawrence Township
Fiscal officer
Cindy Meismer*
Trustee (1 seat)
Douglas Swartz*
Jim Williams
Lexington Township
Fiscal officer
Jill McNeil*
Trustee (1 seat)
Guy E. Aumend
Jerry Edward Moffett
Marlboro Township
Fiscal officer
Tracy M. Ferrett*
Trustee
Wayne C. Schillig*
Nimishillen Township
Fiscal officer
Brandon Evans
Sandy Smith
Trustee (1 seat)
Todd D. Bosley
Kyle J. Fausnight
Kirk Greaves
Don Keefe*
Mark Thomas
Osnaburg Township
Fiscal officer
Brian D. Lowery*
Trustee
Clifford Varian*
Paris Township
Fiscal officer
Rudy Evanich*
Trustee (1 seat)
Jamie Glavan*
Ulrich Jedel
Perry Township
Fiscal officer
Craig E. Chessler*
Luis Lacourt
Trustee (1 seat)
Ralph DeChiara Jr.*
Karl J. Duell
Bonnie Hunt
Pike Township
Fiscal officer
Steve M. Knox*
Trustee
Don E. Charnetzky*
Plain Township
Fiscal officer
Thomas W. Wolf*
Trustee (1 seat)
David W. Crowder
Eric Haines
Brook N. Harless*
Sandy Township
Fiscal officer
Cathy M. McKinney*
Trustee
John G. Petro*
Sugarcreek Township
Fiscal officer
Mark A. Phillips*
Trustee
Tim Regula*
Tuscarawas Township
Fiscal officer
Rachel Ferrell
Jennifer Schonauer*
Trustee (1 seat)
Addy Brenner
Kori Hall
Charles E. Kull III
Jennifer May
John Speicher*
Washington Township
Fiscal officer
Jimmy Jones*
Trustee
Merrit Boyce*
Stark County Educational Service Center
Member of Governing Board (2 seats)
Mary J. Olson*
Teresa Purses
Gregory Wolfe
Alliance City School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Suzie Dennis*
Elayne Dunlap*
Member of Board of Education - unexpired term 12-31-25
Beth Canfield-Simbro
Canton City School - 2nd Sub District
Member of Board of Education
R. Scott Russ*
Canton City School District
Member of Board of Education-at-Large (2 seats)
Kimberly Brown*
Darren Mayle
Eric Resnick*
Myra Watkins
Louisville City School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Frank J. Antonacci*
Barbara DeJacimo*
Jeff Shipman
Massillon City School District
Member of Board of Education (3 seats)
June Dunwiddie
Mark Fair
Thomas F. Radel Jr.*
Monica Weber*
North Canton City School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Shawn Gniazdowski
Bruce Hunt*
Alyssa Plakas
Lindsey Wyckoff
Canton Local School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Jennifer Kluchar
Rick Knight*
Justin T. Lonca
Brandi Noll
Fairless Local School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Justin Henry
Ken Killian*
Jackson Local School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Scott Gindlesberger*
Christopher V. Goff*
Lake Local School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Randall Bear
Deborah Cain*
Stacy K. Hoffman
Scot T. Nabors*
Marlington Local School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Josh Hagan*
Kathleen Purdy
Jonathan Swift*
Minerva Local School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Robert A. Clark*
Rob Yeagley*
Northwest Local School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Julie A. Barkey*
Bryan A. Bowman
Rita Gearhart*
Josh Nathaniel
Member of Board of Education - unexpired term 12-31-25
Larry Murgatroyd
Jeff Weygandt
Osnaburg Local School District
Member of Board of Education (3 seats)
Henry W. Boyle*
Mike Himes
Jacob J. Lesher*
Darla Schwab
Greg Shadle
Perry Local School District (2 seats)
Member of Board of Education
Nichole Crawn
Tony Guillan
Michael Shreffler
Florence Tuesdale*
Simon Warstler
Plain Local School District
Member of Board of Education (2 seats)
Ralph Case
Eugene M. Cazantzes*
Monica Rose Gwin*
Deb Lea
Michael Oyler
Dan Wales
Sandy Valley Local School District
Member of Board of Education (3 seats)
Scot A. Bowman*
Stephen R. Pomesky*
Joseph C. Wigfield*
Tuslaw Local School District (2 seats)
Member of Board of Education
Scott R. Crescenze
Jeannette L. Harig*
Darcy McBride
Steve Reinhart
School levies:
Jackson Local School District, renewal, 3.3 mills, emergency requirements of the school district, 10 years, commencing in 2024.
Lake Local School District, additional, 9.9 mills, current expenses, five years, commencing in 2023.
Louisville City School District, substitute, 3.8 mills, necessary requirements of the school district, five years, commencing in 2023.
Massillon City School District, renewal, 6.4 mills, emergency requirements of the school district, five years, commencing in 2024.
North Canton City School District, bond issue, $27.8 million, 1.6 mills, maximum 36 years and additional 0.7 mill, general permanent improvements, continuing period of time, commencing in 2023.
Perry Local School District, renewal, 9.5 mills, emergency requirements of the school district, five years, commencing in 2024.
Township issues:
Lake Township, renewal, 1.25 mills, roads, five years, commencing in 2024.
Lawrence Township Road District, replacement, 1 mill, five years, commencing in 2024.
Lawrence Township Road District, additional, 1.65 mills, five years, commencing in 2023.
Lawrence Township Fire District, replacement, 0.5 mill, five years, commencing in 2024.
Lawrence Township Fire District, replacement, 1 mill, five years, commencing in 2024.
Lawrence Township Police District, replacement, 1.5 mills, five years, commencing in 2024.
Lexington Township, renewal, 1 mill, five years, fire, commencing in 2024.
Lexington Township, renewal, 0.5 mill, five years, police, commencing in 2024.
Lexington Township, additional, 1.5 mills, five years, road, commencing in 2024.
Nimishillen Township, renewal, 1 mill, roads, five years, commencing in 2024.
Nimishillen Township, renewal, 5 mills, fire, five years, commencing in 2024.
Osnaburg Township, additional, 1.05 mills, roads, continuing period of time, commencing in 2023.
Osnaburg Township, additional, 0.15 mill, cemetery, three years, commencing in 2023.
Pike Township, additional 1 mill, roads, five years, commencing in 2023.
Plain Township Road District, replacement, 1.5 mills and increase of 0.5 mill, five years, commencing in 2023.
Local option, Sandy Township 1, sale of wine and mixed beverages by the package, under permits which authorize sale for off-premise consumption only.
Local option, Sandy Township 1, sale of wine and mixed beverages, under permits which authorize sale for on-premise consumption only, and under permits which authorize sale for both on-premise and off-premise consumption.
Local option, Sandy Township 1, sale of spirituous liquors by the glass.
Local option, Sandy Township 1, Sunday sales of intoxicating liquor, of the same types as may be legally sold in this precinct on other days of the week for consumption on the premises.
Local option, Sandy Township 1, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages, of the same types as may be legally sold in this precinct on other days of the week for consumption off the premises.
Local option, Jackson Township 18, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages, Bell Stores 27, 5508 Wales Avenue NW.
Local option, Plain Township 2, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages, Bell Stores 45, 3985 Everhard Road NW.
Local option, Jackson Township 6, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages, Bell Stores 22, 3917 Wales Avenue NW.
Local option, Jackson Township 10, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages, Maggiores Drive Thru 25, 3464 A-B Wales Avenue NW.
Local option, Plain Township 26, Sunday sales of intoxicating liquor, of the same types as may be legally sold in this precinct on the other days of the week for consumption on the premises.
Local option, Perry Township 1, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, R Snack Pop Store LLC, also known as the Amoco convenience store and drive-thru, 3050 Lincoln Way E.
Local option, Osnaburg Township A, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, BSL Group, LLC d/b/a Lowry’s Family Restaurant, 800 Nassau Street W.
Municipal issues:
Beach City, renewal, 3 mills, police, five years, commencing in 2023.
East Canton, renewal of 6.6 mills and increase of 1.5 mills, police, five years, commencing in 2023.
Hartville, increase of 0.5%, income tax, 10 years, roads, commencing in 2024.
Hills and Dales, additional, 5 mills, current expenses, five years, commencing in 2023.
Minerva, renewal, 0.3 mill, Minerva Senior Center, five years, commencing in 2024.
Minerva, renewal, 1.2 mills, parks, five years, commencing in 2024.
Wilmot, increase of 0.75%, income tax, eight years, fire, commencing in 2024.
Local option, Massillon 4-A, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages, Bell Stores 40, 4141 Erie Street S.
Local option, Canal Fulton B, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages and spiritous liquor, Warehouse on the Canal, 239 N. Canal St.
Local option, Canton City 4-E, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages, Bell Store 53, 2612 Cleveland Avenue SW.
Local option, Canton City 7-A, Sunday sales of intoxicating liquor, of the same types as may be legally sold in this precinct on other days of the week for consumption on the premises.
Local option, Canton City 7-A, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages, of the same types as may be legally sold in this precinct on other days of the week for consumption off the premises.
Local option, Massillon 2-C, Sunday sales of beer, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, Paradigm Shift Brewing, 128 North Ave NE.
Local option, Canal Fulton B, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, Canal Boat Lounge, 119 S. Canal St.
Local option, Massillon 2-C, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, Chloe's Diner 112 First St NE.
Reach Paige at 330-580-8577, pmbennett@gannett.com or on Twitter @paigembenn.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Nov. 7 election filing deadline: Candidates, issues in Stark County
