Displaying items by tag: Summit County Executive

Ohio State Representative Greta Johnson (D-Akron) announced Thursday that she'll be resigning her office to join Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro's office, effective the end of March. 

The press release states that Johnson will take on the role of Deputy Law Director for Summit County. 

Johnson was elected to the State House in 2014 and took office January 2015. 

In a statement release from Johnson's office, she said of the position, “Ilene has been a mentor to me for many years and I look forward to the opportunity to be a part of her team. I am excited to join in her vision for Summit County and I will bring my skills as an attorney and an advocate for working class people to the executive’s office."

She'll officially start her new role on March 27, 2017.  

Ilene Shapiro and Bill Roemer faced off in the Summit County Executive's race debate Wednesday afternoon at Quaker Station in downtown Akron, which was sponsored by the Akron Press Club. Democratic candidate Shapiro was appointed interim executive after the death of Russ Pry...she was county council president before that. Roemer, the Republican challenger, was previously a county council member himself. Shapiro said the county executive's biggest responsibility is fiscal responsibility. 

"Taxpayer money that each and every one of you pay into the county, is what enables us to keep our budgets steady, to be able to monitor what we need to do, and to forecast what we will be able to do in the future," Shapiro said. "We have a strong fiscal responsibility." Roemer said for him, the biggest thing is keeping Summit County safe. "As a part of doing that, we've seen the sheriff's budget reduced significantly. We've seen a wing of the jail closed," Roemer said. "Those are items that need to be addressed immediately." 

But Roemer and Shapiro disagreed on the costs of the closed jail wing.

Shapiro said there's a reason that the $3.5 million dollar cost estimate has been made...due to a legal settlement..."Part of the settlement in that was if we opened the pod, we would have to fully fund the jail, OK, the 50 officers," Shapiro said. "You do the rough math for the 50 officers, at let's say $60,000 without benefits or whatever, we're well over $3 million." Roemer said that he's talked with executives in the sheriff's office, and that the net cost would be lower.  "The net cost, given the amount that we paid to Geauga County, the amount that we are currently paying to open a portion of that jail when needed, the net cost of that would be $700,000," Roemer said. "The $3.5 million figure cited is the figure that is needed to bring the sheriff's department funding to the 2008 level." 

The candidates also talked about the sales tax increase which failed in 2014, which Roemer says he supported in its revised form because it supported law enforcement and the sheriff's office. Shapiro says she supported it before an arena proposal was removed, saying the county had a "window of opportunity" to fuel growth and the county's tax base.

Editor's note: the complete debate can be heard below. 

Candidates in the Summit County Executive race have agreed to an October debate.

Republican Bill Roemer and Democrat Illene Shapiro will take part in the Akron Press Club debate on October 19th at Quaker Station.

Shapiro and Roemer will get 90 seconds to answer each question from the panel, and the other candidate will get 45 seconds of rebuttal to each question.

Roemer is a former County Council member. Shapiro was council president until being appointed executive after the death of Russ Pry.

"If you were his friend, you were his friend for life," said Carol Deszo, judge in Summit County Domestic Relations Court.

An estimated one-thousand people filled the John S. Knight Center to celebrate the life and legacy of Summit County Executive Russ Pry who passed away at the age of 58 after battling colon cancer.

While Pry's passing was recognized as a great loss, the focus was on the legacy Pry left behind in the county and beyond. Congressman Tim Ryan was the first to deliver a eulogy, describing Pry as a gentle man with "no ego" and a passion to serve the community and make a difference.

Those involved in the service included Phil Montgomery, Congressman Tim Ryan, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, Former Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, Summit County Domestic Relations Court Judge Carol Dezso and personal friend Mike Cassetty. 

Carla Davis with Akron-Summit County Library, accompanied by pianist Tatsuya Nagashima performed "Amazing Grace" to begin the service and ended with a performance of "Over the Rainbow."

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Summit County executive Russ Pry is pulling his name off the November general election ballot, citing a need to focus on his recovery from health issues.

Pry will continue as Summit County Executive through the end of the year.

He hasn't yet physically returned to the executive's office, but is communicating with his chief of staff Jason Dodson...who is running the daily operations.

There's no word on when Pry may return to the office before the end of 2016.

Summit County Democrats say there'll be a central committee meeting August 11th to name a ballot replacement for Pry.

In a statement, Pry says he's been "honored" to serve the residents of Summit County for nine years, and thanks people for well-wishes, prayers and thoughts.

(Summit County Executive's Office, news release) This afternoon, Summit County Executive Russ Pry will notify the Summit County Board of Elections of his intention to withdraw his candidacy to be re-elected in the November 8, 2016 General Election. Executive Pry has chosen to withdraw his candidacy in order to focus on his recovery from health issues previously disclosed to the media and public. Executive Pry will continue to serve as Summit County Executive until the conclusion of his current term on December 31, 2016.

While there is no current timetable for his physical return to the office, he continues to manage the affairs of the office through, and in communication with, his Chief of Staff, Jason Dodson, who will continue to oversee the daily operations of the office.

Russ has been honored to serve the residents of Summit County for the last nine years, and will continue to do so through the end of this year. He also thanks everyone for their well-wishes, prayers and positive thoughts.

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(City of Akron, news release) In light of the recent news that Summit County Executive Russ Pry has decided not to run for re-election this November for health-related reasons, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan is showing his support and appreciation for the long-time Executive.

Mayor Horrigan states, "Russ Pry has been a mentor, friend and confidant for 15 years. This City and this County were lucky to have his strong, steady and capable leadership for as long as we did. We would not be the City we are today without him. While all of us at the City are saddened that he won't be returning to his post, we fully support his decision to do what's best for his health and well-being. I'm truly blessed to be his friend and colleague and wish him all the best in his continuing recovery."

The City of Akron commits to continue to be a valued to partner to the County in any way possible as Pry's administration and staff finishes the final months of his term.

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(U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, statement) "Russ has been a fixture of Summit County for years and it's been an honor to work with him on the issues impacting his community – from combatting blight to tackling the opioid epidemic and infant mortality. We should all be grateful for his service to Ohio. Connie and I wish him the best as he focuses on his recovery."

Summit County Executive Russ Pry has banned all official county government travel to North Carolina in response to the state's controversial "Bathroom Bill."

North Carolina House Bill 2 includes provisions that require people to use the public restroom that corresponds with their biological sex and that supercede non-discrimination laws passed by municipalities. Opponents of the bill, including Pry, contend the bill discriminates against the LGBT community.

Pry joined The Jasen Sokol Show to explain his decision: