VOTE411 Voter Guide

I bring a unique combination of lived experience, public service, and deep community engagement that make me the best candidate for Ward 8. I grew up in poverty, overcame early learning challenges, and served in a Military Police Brigade in the Army National Guard after 9/11.

In 2019, I was elected to the Akron School Board and served during the pandemic. My leadership was marked by responsiveness and a commitment to hearing from all people. I championed livable wages, raising pay for non-bargaining staff by up to $4 per hour, and supported the largest teacher raises in recent history. I also rewrote the public comment policy to remove restrictions, allowing residents to sign up to speak up to the start of meetings.

As a Ward 8 homeowner and longtime resident, my priorities include affordable housing, small business support, community development, public safety, and environmental sustainability. I'm ready to move Ward 8 forward with transparent, people-focused leadership.

To improve neighborhood safety and strengthen trust, I support expanding community policing, increasing foot and bike patrols, and establishing police substations, such as a joint substation in Wards 8 and 4 at the new fire station. As the son of a former Air Policeman and a former member of a Military Police Brigade, I respect law enforcement and value strong relationships. I support increasing the authority of the Citizens’ Oversight Board so their recommendations lead to real accountability. I also back traffic calming measures, including walking neighborhoods with residents to place stop signs, solar speeding signs, and other tools where they make the most sense. Public safety and justice must go hand in hand; we must also invest in mental health crisis response, youth programs, and reentry support to prevent crime and build safer, more connected neighborhoods.

To address housing insecurity, I wholeheartedly believe that Akron must invest in affordable housing, preserve existing homes, and protect residents from displacement by strengthening tenants rights. I support incentives for local developers to build and maintain affordable units, as well as stronger code enforcement to ensure safe living conditions and holding landlords accountable for neglect or abuse. We must also expand rental assistance and support first-time homebuyers. I believe in exploring innovative solutions like tiny homes and getting serious about ending homelessness in Akron. I want to work with the city, county, and residents to make Akron a gold standard model for addressing homelessness with compassion, coordination, and urgency. Housing is a human right, not a privilege. Food and job insecurity go hand in hand with this challenge and must be addressed in tandem to create real stability. Akron can be the city where everyone has a safe, stable place to call home.

In addition to housing, safety, and economic development, I will prioritize increasing transparency and support for neighborhood services. I plan to work with Council to revise its rules on public comments, just as I did on the school board, so residents can speak up and be heard at meetings. I firmly believe public officials should hear people when they agree and lean in even more when they disagree. We should be making free speech more accessible, not less. I will also work to improve constituent services by strengthening the city’s response to neighborhood concerns and being more attentive and intentional in addressing everyday issues. This includes investing in basic infrastructure like fixing streets and sidewalks to create safer, more accessible communities. I want every resident to feel their neighborhood matters. I will host regular community days to bring city resources directly to residents, connect neighbors with services and each other that will move Ward 8 forward.

Unanimously chosen by City Council to fill the Ward 8 seat in July of 2024, I bring extensive experience in public service, running and working in both small businesses and in Fortune 500 companies. As Akron’s Ward 1 councilman from 1991-1997, I learned the importance of addressing residents’ needs and advocating for them at City Hall. I held key roles on Council as chairman of Public Utilities and vice chair of Budget & Finance committees. Having served over 25 years on Akron’s Zoning Appeals Board has given me a solid understanding of our Zoning Code. As a board member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Summit County, Keep Akron Beautiful, and the Oriana House Advisory Board, I have deep ties to our community.

Having lived in Ward 8 since 2002, I have personal insight into our ward’s needs and stay connected through monthly ward meetings and an e-newsletter. I will work to keep residents safe, our neighborhoods strong, and to make sure Ward 8 and Akron are a welcoming community for all.

In Ward 8, the biggest safety concern revolves around speeding in residential neighborhoods. Many streets in the Ward do not have sidewalks and residents are concerned and fearful of walking their dogs or their children riding bikes. I am a strong proponent of traffic calming devices that have been used in the past such as speed tables and and solar radar speed signs in our neighborhoods. Akron police do not have the manpower to consistently use radar in our neighborhoods and I hope to use these devices to slow traffic. I also believe it’s important to commission a study on use of force and other policies within the police department. City Council is currently looking at the University of Akron as a partner and to engage stakeholders in the community, APD, and the Citizens Police Oversight Board to make sure we are using best practices across the board. Training is essential, especially at times of split second decision-making to protect our citizens and our police force.

Akron is taking steps on housing and insecurity in the 2025 Capital Budget with programs like $300,000 for down payment assistance, $400,000 in minor home repair, and over $2,500,000 in Grants and loan for housing rehabilitation and lead paint removal. I also believe that we need to continue to partner with local nonprofits that are skilled in revitalizing and building new affordable housing. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, Alpha Phi Alpha Homes are just two partners at the city has successfully partnered with in the past. Housing code enforcement is also a key, especially when it comes to rental units and apartments. I’ve supported using technology in the field and cross training all department on zoning and housing code violations. Proper enforcement of our code, especially with landlords will ensure Akron’s housing stock remains solid. The law department is currently researching an ordinance from the city of Cleveland that specifically addresses absentee landlords.

Economic development and supporting small businesses in ward eight is essential for our growth. The biggest opportunity in Ward 8 is in the Merriman Valley, with its access to the Towpath, Cuyahoga River, Sand Run and Summit County Metro Parks system. I currently sit on the Steering Committee for the Cuyahoga Valley Gateway Partnership, where we’re working with businesses, residents, along with the city of Cuyahoga Falls to to develop the area according to the master plan that was put in place a few years back. We need to be cognizant of our natural resources and make sure that any plans include abundant green space, conservation of wetlands and preserving our tree canopy. I firmly believe this can be a destination spot for eco- tourism, entertainment and shopping. The small businesses need our support and I during the heavy rains and flooding back in August, I made sure the City helped by cleaning the mud in their parking lots, enabling many of them to open their doors the next day.