RubberBuzz || Akron Unleashed: The Vote Nears

10.24.2005

The Vote Nears

I'm a big fan of voting. It's fun, but I sometimes feel really dumb in the voting booth. I feel like I've been reading the newspapers for no reason at all. By the time I get to the booth, 30,000 new initiatives have been placed on the ballot and I'm left with the decision to vote on an issue I don't understand or to leave my card blank. So I want to make sure everyone's up to date with the big issues that are out there so there are no surprises when you're voting.

Issue 1: This state constitutional amendment is about infrastructure stuff. It could allow for greater job growth in research areas but it allows levied funds to be used for purposes other then what they were intended and could increase debt.

Issue 2: This state constitutional amendment would allow for more flexibilty with absentee voting. You wouldn't need a reason to vote this way. This would make it easier to vote for people with crazy schedules but there is potential for increased voter fraud.

Issue 3: This state constitutional amendment limits compaign contrubtions and instates a new kind on political action committee.

Issue 4: This state constitutional amendment ammends the process for redistricting. If this one passes, say goodbye to Gerrymandering.

Issue 5: This state constitutional amendment that would fire Ken Blackwell forever. It would replace his position with an appointed board.

Issue 6: This levy is to replace an expiring levy to benifit the mentally handicapped community in Summit county. It would raise slightly what you are already paying but would help provided neccessary services to people in our own county.

Issue 78: Levy to give more cash. Voting for it helps the kids in our community and raises your taxes.

Alright, that was a lot of typing. I'll let The BJ sum up the ward races.

Ward 1

Daniel Horrigan (D)
Age: 42.
Family: Married with three children.
Employment: Teacher at Stow-Munroe Falls High School.
Political history: Incumbent since 2000

Mary Conti (R)
Age: 57.
Family: Married with one son, no relation to at-large Councilman John Conti.
Employment: Retired secretary in retail/banking.
Political history: This is her first run for office.

Ward 2

Bruce Kilby (D)
Age: 54.
Family: Married with one daughter.
Employment: Retired special education teacher for Department of Youth Services and former Akron Public Schools teacher.
Political history: Akron Ward 10 councilman from 1994 to 2002.

Republican candidate Brian Townsend Deeken did not respond to a request for information.

Ward 6

Terry Albanese (D)
Age: 45.
Family: Married with three children.
Employment: Assistant professor at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.
Political history: Incumbent since 2001.

Gus Charnas (R)
Age: 62.
Family: Married with daughter and son.
Employment: Retired welder from Babcock & Wilcox.
Political history: This is his first run for office.

Ward 7

Tina Merlitti (D)
Age: 34
Family: Single.
Employment: Community relations specialist, Summit County.
Political history: Appointed to represent Ward 7 in 2005.

Jill R. Flagg (R)
Age: 25
Family: Married with one child.
Employment: Self-employed lawyer.
Political history: This is her first run for office.

Ward 8

Bob Keith (D)
Age: 55
Family: Married with three children.
Employment: Owner of Summit Tailoring.
Political history: Incumbent since 1997.

Michael Kormushoff Jr. (R)
Age: 57.
Family: Married with four children.
Employment: Vice president of advertising agency.
Political history: This is his first run for office.

Ward 9

Mike Freeman (D)
Age: 49.
Family: Married with four children.
Employment: Director of planned giving for the Salvation Army
Political history:
Incumbent since 2002.

Republican candidate Timothy Powell did not respond to a request for information