Recordpub.com - 11 seek 2 Rootstown trustee seats: Water company lawsuit, crime, services for seniors among candidates' top issues

By Diane Smith

Record-Courier staff writer

ROOTSTOWN— Eleven people are seeking two seats in what is one of the most crowded races in Portage County.

The seats being held by Trustees David Armentrout and Diane Dillon are up for re-election Tuesday. Also seeking election are Luke Darrah, James Gerren, James Greener, Brett Housley, Roy Kelsey, Bill Madlem, Jim Manion, Ron Snyder and Tom Weese.

Some candidates are pointing to the township’s dispute with the Rootstown Water Co. as their top issue, while others point to business development, crime and the need for services for senior citizens.

Armentrout and Dillon point out that the court case between the township and the water company is in the hands of the Portage County Common Pleas Court, and a decision may be made before the elected trustees start their terms.

Dave Armentrout

Armentrout, a trustee for 12 years, counts the township’s fire station, built in 2002, among his accomplishments. He said the township also established a Web site, being among the first in Portage County to do so, and purchased 36 acres and developed it as a new park.

He said he is concerned about increasing crime in the township.

“I talked to the sheriff about establishing a community watch program, and he thought that was a good idea,” he said.

Luke Darrah

Darrah is the owner of Darrah’s Car Care/Repair That Glass, which has operated in the township for 21 of Darrah’s 23 years there. He said he’d like to see more services available for seniors, who he said are “left out of the mix.”

“I think there needs to be some fresh blood and fresh ideas on the trustee board,” he said.

Diane Dillon

Dillon, who has been a trustee for eight years, said the township implemented non-resident ambulance billing, which provided money to replace and update two ambulances and add three full-time medics. She said she also oversaw development of the new park, established a “first alert” system to notify residents in the event of emergencies and a “rapid access” program that allows EMS personnel to check up on seniors in case they are unable to come to the door.

“Obviously, everybody has limited funds,” she said. “I think you need to have experienced people to manage the township budget.”

James Gerren

Gerren owns a video production company, Nightwine Productions. He serves as executive director of the Rootstown Summerfest and organized 22 teams from the local Hot Stove league to volunteer.

“I’m running to help the citizens out,” he said. “We also need to promote better communication and give everybody a chance to understand the facts better.”

James Greener

Greener, a retired environmental engineer, worked as a city engineer for Ashland for five years and as a program manager at the Ohio EPA when the agency was first established. Being retired gives him time to fulfill the responsibility of trustee.

“The township is an extension of the county,” he said. “It’s not a 40 hour a week job. It keeps me involved.”

Brett Housley

Housley, a lawyer and life resident of Rootstown, is commissioner of the Rootstown Soccer Club and deacon of Grace Church of Rootstown. Being a trustee is “just something I’m excited about,” he said, adding that he is pleased to see so many people running.

“I’d like to encourage the board to come along and support the school district,” he said.

Roy Kelsey

Kelsey, a retired pastor, has been a resident of the community since 1977, when he came to pastor a church. He retired in 2003 as pastor of Community Bible Church.

“Rootstown has no senior services of any kind,” he said, adding that the township also needs to increase its business base. “Without commercial and industrial taxes, the burden of paying for the schools falls on the property owners.”

Bill Madlem

Madlem is a member of the Rootstown Hot Stove committee and the Rootstown Water Board.

He acknowledged that the township’s dispute with the water company over fire hydrants will probably be resolved before the election.

“It’s not a big deal, but everybody has made it a big deal,” he said, adding that he would like to see both sides negotiate. “We’re such a small community. We should work together.”

Jim Manion

Manion is director of general services for Portage County. He also has served as fiscal officer for Randolph, as a member of the Waterloo Board of Education and as an alternate on Rootstown’s Board of Zoning Appeals.

“I am running because I feel I’m the best qualified to run the township,” he said. “I believe my qualifications are the No. 1 reason I’m running.”

Ron Snyder

Snyder is president of the board and operations officer for the Rootstown Water Co. He also has experience as an insurance claim adjuster, in law enforcement and in the military.

He said the township’s lawsuit against the water company is “the No. 1 issue” and he would petition trustees to drop the lawsuit.

“Economic development and business retention is important,” he said. “We must preserve local businesses and jobs and improve the tax base for our schools. I would develop a tax plan that is appealing to business.

Tom Weese

Weese is a life resident of Rootstown, is a veteran of the U.S. Marines, and works for AT&T.

He said his experience taking classes at the University of Akron in recent years taught him a few things about government and the rights of property owners. He thinks residents are burdened with too many taxes and restrictions.

“On the fire hydrant issue, I tend to agree with the water department,” he said. “Hopefully instead of fighting with each other, we can work out a compromise.”