Education
Proud graduate St. Mary's Chardon and Chardon High School. Attended Lakeland Community College
Experience
20 years as Chardon Township Trustee, 24 years as City of Chardon Street Superintendent
The roll of Chardon Township Trustee is to manage all the daily activity of the Township. Examples are overseeing the budget, employee relations, planning and executing Capital Improvements projects, health safety and welfare of all it's employees the its residents. Planning for the future of the township. Spending the tax payers money wisely. I was previously elected for 5 terms as Chardon Township Trustee and would be honored to again serve the residence of our township as trustee.
The biggest fiscal challenge for the township is planning and financing road projects without the need to take out out loans. With the recent passage of a new road levy the additional funds should be used to pay for existing road improvements, but the township also needs to ensure we pay off any current outstanding loans for road projects.
The increased traffic will always be an issue that must continuously be addressed.
All the township trustee meetings are currently televised and are available for viewing. All are welcome to attend any meeting the township has and can comment about whatever is of concern to them. The last option is call your elected official if you have any issues or concerns.
Education
BS - Business Administration - Accounting from University of Akron 1993
Experience
Finishing my 5th term as Chardon Township Trustee, 20 years. I also work in public sector on the county level for my day job.
Volunteer/Community Service
Volunteered for a couple of different 4H groups as well as coached my kids in football and baseball.
The role of a township trustee is to ensure the township roads are safe and drivable, that every resident has access to fire and EMS services, that township funds are properly and wisely used and that every resident can peacefully enjoy their property.
Each trustee must work together with the other two trustees in conjunction with the Fiscal Office to ensure that the township is functioning properly.
I have 20 years of experience as a Chardon Township trustee and have encountered many different challenges and how to resolve them. I also have been the primary trustee responsible for budgeting and appropriations over the last 10 years and that knowledge base is critical for next four years.
The biggest fiscal challenges facing the township are the rising costs of road repair, trucks and equipment and keeping our employees with fair and competitive wages. The township is working closely with the Geauga County Engineers Office to find ways to repair and reconstruct our roads in a cost-effective manner. Thanks to the new road levy approved in 2024, we have been able to act on our 5-year Plan to revitalize our roads. This year we will pave 5 roads, the most ever done in one year by the township. We employ a mechanic on staff that has drastically reduced our equipment repair expenses and are constantly looking for, and getting, grants and other funding. Proper budgeting and planning is the key to overcoming these challenges.
Other challenges for Chardon Township include maintaining and improving our park, cleaning up a couple of different properties that have become nuisances and fighting off proposed annexation of township land. We plan to utilize Reserve Fund budgeting to plan and save for future park projects, as well as vehicle and equipment replacement. In regard to nuisance property clean-up, we are already making progress in a very difficult area for a township to accomplish. As far as potential annexation is concerned, the board must be unanimous in opposition to the idea and work together with the residents to keep the high density housing off of our doorstep. Unforeseen challenges will inevitably occur, and I have the experience to handle them.
The best way to keep residents informed and engaged is to get them to attend our bi-monthly trustee meetings. We meet every first and third Wednesday of the month at 7pm and encourage everyone to attend or view on GTV. We always put Residents Comments at the top of our agenda to encourage residents to come. We also have a new website for people to get information as well as a Facebook page. Just recently we restarted the Community Newsletter, which we plan on doing at least twice a year to mail out to all residents.
Education
University of Akron
Experience
I have zero experience in a paid public service position. My background covers 30+ years in banking/finance/real estate management. I retired from the corporate world and now own the local laundromat here in Chardon -- Louie's Laundromat.
Volunteer/Community Service
15+ years coaching youth sports; volunteer with Big Brother/Big Sister; was on the Board for Akron Updowntowners (restoring downtown Akron); various community volunteer efforts
A township trustee, in essence, acts as a "town manager". Budgets, zoning, road/park maintenance, compliance and community outreach are among the top responsibilities. My professional background lends itself as a natural fit for the role of Township Trustee. Also, I feel this is a great way for me to give back to the community that has accepted me since my move here in 2020.
Making sure our residents tax dollars are being used responsibly without unnecessary expenditures or waste. Meeting with the residents of our community to listen to their concerns, ideas and thoughts of the best, most responsible use of our tax dollars.
Keeping/motivating the members of our township to be engaged in the goings-on of our township government to also include complete transparency and disclosure.
I would employ a strategy that includes both modern and traditional channels of communication in order for our residents to be informed.
Education
I have a BA in Accounting, Management, and Finance and an MS-MIS/MBA degree from Case Western’s Weatherhead School of Management.
Experience
In my professional career, I have over 40 years of experience in the financial, operational, and auditing functions with fortune 500 companies. I have been a Chief Audit Executive and a Director of Cybersecurity and recently a small business entrepreneur in the Twp
Volunteer/Community Service
I am Vice President of the Chardon Square Association, Event Manager for the Chardon Farmers Market and former Rotarian.
A Township Trustee is primarily to serve as a governing official responsible for managing the township’s finances, services, and operations that directly impact residents. I am seeking this position to ensure a solid future for our Township by working with the other Trustees to: 1) Refine our financial and operational planning processes by creating short term and long term plans; 2) Improve the current key decision making processes over financial and operational events by incorporating a more analytical/due diligence methodology; and 3) Enhance communications to our residents with respect to our general operations and events occurring in our Township.
The current biggest fiscal challenge facing our Township is the rising operational costs involving oil based products, tariffs, general inflation, and external third -party services relative to replacing and maintaining our Township roads.
The key projects that need to be addressed in the next four years are: 1) Continued paving and maintenance of our degraded Township roads; 2) Restoration/upgrades to our park with a focus on: a) handicap accessible walking trails and paths and easier pavilion access; b) economical and eco-friendly restrooms; c) playground equipment; and 4 our ball fields' maintenance.
I will ensure a more consistent communication with the residents through the Township's website, G-TV Sessions, newsletters, other social media options, community gatherings, as well as Trustee meetings.
Education
Notre Dame Elementary (K-8), NDCL (9), Chardon High School (10-12), Hocking College (Police Science), Eastern Gateway College (Business)
Experience
I have over 20 years of public safety experience with the Chardon and Concord Township Fire Departments, complemented by union leadership roles and a background in construction safety as a coordinator for TRAX Construction. Skilled in problem-solving and management.
Volunteer/Community Service
I’ve volunteered at several community and private events to help raise funds for various organizations and community members in need.
The role of a Chardon Township Trustee is to oversee the management and fiscal responsibility of township operations, ensuring that services meet the needs of residents while maintaining the community’s character and financial health. With over 20 years as a public servant and leadership experience in both the construction industry and union roles, I bring a strong background in decision-making, fiscal responsibility, and teamwork. This experience equips me to make informed, balanced decisions that benefit the township and its residents.
I believe the biggest fiscal challenge facing the Township is managing the high cost of infrastructure improvements, such as road repairs, and large capital purchases. These are among the most expensive responsibilities local governments face. However, nearly every area of township operations is impacted by rising costs, including safety services. The key challenge is identifying and prioritizing the most urgent needs while maintaining high-quality, effective employees to continue delivering essential services to our residents.
I hope to address community challenges such as promoting responsible economic growth that preserves our township’s semi-rural character, while also modernizing parks, amenities, and township services. It's important to maintain the charm of our community while ensuring it meets modern needs. I also believe in improving communication through email and social media to keep residents informed and engaged, and to better understand their priorities and concerns—all while seeking supplemental funding to help offset costs for key projects and community needs.
I will ensure residents stay informed and engaged by combining personal outreach with modern technology. In addition to talking directly with neighbors, I plan to use email and social media channels to communicate regularly. I would also like to implement systems that make it easy for residents to provide feedback. Using the township’s newly redesigned website, residents can sign up to receive email updates, news, surveys, and event notifications—helping promote transparency and encourage greater community involvement.
