Recordpub.com - Ravenna Township Trustee, clerk

By Mike Hixenbaugh
Record-Courier staff writer
Seven candidates are seeking one seat on the Ravenna Township Board of Trustees, while two more are vying for a position as the township fiscal officer.
With incumbent trustee Mel Cole stepping aside with health troubles, each of the challengers are after an open seat.
Stephanie Airwyke, a trucking dispatcher; Vince Coia, a parks manager; Wayne Enders, an administrator at the Portage County Coroner's Office; Hank T. Gibson, a Portage County probation officer; Kenneth A. Lewis, president and CEO of Compudata Inc.; Daniel Lintz, owner of Lintz Collision and Finishing; and Record-Courier sales representative Mark McEwen are all vying for the highly contested trustee seat.
Airwyke said she is poised to handle the hard work of being a trustee. She recognizes the township's diversity as a strength as well as an obstacle.
"The township is so spread out," she said. "As a trustees, all we could do is focus on one issue at a time and do our best to solve it."
Coia, who is on the Democratic Central Committee, wants to focus his efforts on maximizing the township's spending efficiency.
"We should consider joining a co-op like the city has in order to buy goods and services in bulk," Coia said. "We have to be more efficient with what we have."
After several years as an administrator with the Portage County Coroner, Enders said he understands that challenges are continuously developing. While he is pleased with the effort of the current trustees, Enders said he understands that there is always more work to be done.
"A new strategic plan needs to be developed to attract industries and business in order to have a better tax base," Enders said. "Trustees must work at getting more involvement from its residents so the ongoing needs of its people can be met."
Having served on the Ravenna Board of Education during the 1990s, Gibson said he understands how to work within a budget. This is his third attempt to win the trustee position.
"I just want the opportunity to serve the community," Gibson said. "I believe I'm qualified. I have a political science, criminal justice degree and have worked for the Portage County administrative team."
Lewis, who was vice president of Huntington Bank in Kent for a number of years, also was a previous school board member. If he wins, his focus will be on improving township finances.
"We'll need to look at the mutual sharing of utilities with the city," Lewis said. "There are federal funds available to move those utilities into the township without making voters pay for it. They must be applied for, but that's something I would work on."
When Lintz, a longtime Ravenna business owner, realized one of the trustee seats was being vacated, he said he felt a conviction to run and do his best to replace Cole.
"I felt there was a void with one of the trustees not returning," Lintz said. "And I felt I was qualified to fill the void. I just want to do my best to serve the needs of the community."
Regardless of who wins, McEwen said the greatest challenge facing the trustees will be balancing the community's rural appeal with continuos growth.
"We also must address the problem of crime, in particular the use, manufacture, and distribution of drugs," McEwen said. "I would work closely with the sheriff and prosecutor offices to ensure adequate law enforcement where it is needed."
Meanwhile, Franklin D. Gray is squaring off against Kelly Rich in the Ravenna Township Clerk race.
Gray, a family services professional, believes more than 20 years of effectively managing the multi-faceted business divisions of Vale Edge Inc. will enable him to serve the township well.
After working with money for more than 15 years, Rich said she understands it. She is the incumbent, having been appointed to the post in May.
"I just hope to keep doing what I'm doing," Rich said.

Ravenna Township Board of Trustees
Term: Four years
Salary: $12,083
One to be elected

Stephanie Airwyke
Occupation: Dispatcher for trucking company
Previous elected office: None
Question: What is the greatest problem facing the township and how do you intend to fix it?
Answer: Ravenna Township is so spread out, there are several smaller communities within it. Each one of those communities has its own little problems that need to be addressed. On my side of town, we have problems with speed limits not being enforced, along with other safety issues. As trustees, all we can do is tackle these issues one problem at a time.

Vince Coia
Occupation: Parks Manager at Coia Implement
Previous elected office: On the Democratic Central Committee
Question: What is the greatest problem facing the township and how do you intend to fix it?
Answer: We need to be able to support the services that we supply to the public without raising taxes. Everybody has been taxed to death. To do that, we'll need to bring in more revenue, perhaps by working jointly with the city. We also need to be smart and efficient with how we spend the money we do have.

Wayne Enders
Occupation: Administrator at Portage County Coroner's Office
Previous elected office: None
Question: What is the greatest problem facing the township and how do you intend to fix it?
Answer: There are no major problems facing the township because the current trustees govern well. However, there are always ongoing challenges. A new strategic plan needs to be developed to attract industries and business in order to have a better tax base. Trustees must work at getting more involvement from its residents so the ongoing needs of its people can be met.

Henry "Hank" T. Gibson
Occupation: Portage County probation officer
Previous elected office: Ravenna School Board, 1993-1996
Question: What is the greatest problem facing the township and how do you intend to fix it?
Answer: With the financial restraints that are placed on all townships, the budget is always very important. We have to make sure we're providing the best service as effectively and efficiently as we can. We need to be more fiscally sound.

Kenneth A. Lewis
Occupation: Vice president of Huntington Bank, 9 years; President and CEO of Compudata Inc.
Previous elected office: Ravenna Board of Education, five years
Question: What is the greatest problem facing the township and how do you intend to fix it?
Answer: The biggest problem is a result of the growth that's causing increased financial needs. Unfortunately, we generally have to look to voters for tax dollars for this. We need to look for creative financing options, such as the mutual sharing of expenses with the city. Whatever we do, we need to eliminate the constant voter participation in paying for growth.

Daniel Lintz
Occupation: Owner of Lintz Collision and Finishing
Previous elected office: None
Question: What is the greatest problem facing the township and how do you intend to fix it?
Answer: Giving the residents of the township the services they need in proportion to the tax dollars they pay is very important. I really just want to be able to care for the people of the township and help meet their needs.

Mark McEwen
Occupation: Record-Courier sales representative
Previous elected office: None
Question: What is the greatest problem facing the township and how do you intend to fix it?
Answer: The biggest challenge facing Ravenna Township is managing our growth while maintaining our rural appeal. Strict enforcement of zoning regulations and a well conceived plan for that growth are the best ways to ensure this. We must also continue cooperation with Ravenna City as a means to attract economic development.

Ravenna Township Fiscal Officer
Term: Four years
Salary: $20,463
One to be elected

Franklin D. Gray
Photo: E-mailed
Occupation: Family Services Professional, Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home
Previous elected office: None
Question: What motivated you to run for this office?
Answer: "I want to incorporate the experience that I have acquired related to finance and technology, thus increasing the efficiencies of the office and strengthening the financial health of Ravenna Township."

Kelly Rich
Photo: E-mailed
Occupation: Banking
Previous elected office: Appointed Ravenna Township Clerk, 2007
Question: What motivated you to run for this office?
Answer: I want to continue what I've been working on. I knew if I left, I would have left work unfinished. I sought the appointment because I saw the need for someone to step up and I fealt it was just the next step up for me. Prior to my apointment, I worked as an administrative assistant for the trustees.