Shreve, 53, is a greenhouse business owner and member of North Perry Village Council for 23 years.
Shreve would look to provide easier access and support for businesses to conduct operations in the county, provide leadership on intergovernmental relations and focus on common sense leadership.
He said all three of these areas start with good communication and the openness to all parties involved with the ability to look at all the options available in a common sense manner.
He said 35 years in business and more than 22 years in local government gives him the experience to represent county residents with confidence.
Kimberly Laurie, 33, is a full-time office manager and a part-time Realtor making her first attempt at elected county office.
She considers herself active in the Liberty movement and has worked to create positive changes in representation and governance.
Laurie said her decision to run for office is a result of continual disappointment and frustration with the political candidates presented to us by establishment Republicans.
She aims to work to lower taxes, increase transparency and reestablish strong local sovereignty to protect against overreach by the federal government.
Galloway, 41, is a political consultant and he has served as a Concord Township trustee since 2006.
He said the county needs new proven leadership and aims to improve county budgeting and operations, economic development planning, and communication and cooperation with local officials and communities.
He said during his time as trustee the township has grown its budget surplus to $7 million through conservative budgeting and spending less than what is collected despite challenging times.
O’Brien is a business consultant who looks to win her first election to public office.
She said her work experience has helped companies for more than 20 years become more productive and profitable.
O'Brien believes she knows how to create jobs and build a stronger economy.
She said her vote is not for sale to special interest groups and aims to protect the rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children and she stands against Common Core.
O’Brien would work to end Obamacare and defend citizens from government overreach and burdensome taxes.
LaTourette plans to work to ensure the people of the Ohio’s 76th House District have a partner in Columbus who will look out for their interests.
She said the state needs to continue to reform and streamline the tax code, cut burdensome regulation and continue our aggressive push to attract and grow new jobs..
She said the state needs to focus on preparing students for the modern workforce by increasing efforts for science, technology, engineering and math education.
LaTourette said the Republican Party needs to unify behind a positive agenda to move the state forward to continue growth.
Dennis N. LoConti said he would seek to involve schools with local attorneys to develop a broader-based program of educating students about specific laws to show the negative impact criminal conduct can have.
Ron Graham would like to continue to have cases heard within one year of filing just as Judge Joe Gibson does now. He thinks it is important to have a Drug Court in Common Pleas.
Matheney was elected in 2012 to serve as representative for the 98th district of the Ohio House including Geauga County and parts of Cuyahoga County.
She said if she were elected she would distribute the remaining moneys in the real estate assessment fund to the townships, schools, parks, libraries and county agencies.
“The current Auditor is sitting on between $1.2 million and $1.7 million that is supposed to be returned to the townships, schools, and other taxing authorities,” she said.
Matheny said she would attempt to improve upon “leadership” in the Auditor’s Office.
She said 15 employees with many years of experience have left the Auditor’s Office recently.
“The current Auditor’s failure to lead and effectively manage good employees has created a disruptive work environment. Over the last seven years as an assistant prosecuting attorney representing many county and township officials, boards, and commissions, I have earned the respect that is necessary to lead,” she said.
“I appreciate the fact that it takes all of the county agencies and officials working together to keep Geauga County great.”
“The role of the county auditor is driven by the law, as the Ohio Revised Code expressly states the county auditor’s responsibilities,” she said. “I am a hardworking, effective, and efficient attorney and I have earned the respect and praise of those I represent. If elected, I will work tirelessly to restore professional leadership to the Geauga County Auditor’s Office.”
As the current auditor, Gliha said he has “and will continue to protect farm values, individual real estate values and concern myself with the needs of the elderly in Geauga County.”
He said his office and he work to help veterans who are in need of support and assistance.
He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and a lifetime member of VFW No. 6519.
“It is our purpose to serve the county and meet or exceed the needs of the residents to the best of our ability,” he said.
“This is done by continuing to put my excellent staff in areas in which they will be most productive to the residents of Geauga County.”
In his election questionnaire, Gliha listed awards he has received including 2014 County Auditors’ Association of Ohio “Distinguished County Auditor” Award, Perfect Audits with Distinction from Auditor of State Awards and 2013 Geauga County Department on Aging Senior Supporter of the Year.
He said “I am the best qualified and most experienced candidate for the office of Geauga County Auditor.”
Mitchell D'Amico believes Lake County has the best judges and court system in the state of Ohio. In private practice for 18 years, he would like to further the development of the mediation program.
Jerse, 56, is a 47-year resident of Euclid. He served on Euclid City Council from 1989 to 1993 and as a State Representative from 1995 to 2004. He recently retired as Cuyahoga County’s director of regional collaboration.
If elected, Jerse said he would like to focus on economic development, education and the rebuilding of Ohio’s infrastructure.
On economic development, Jerse said, “We should revitalize key, bipartisan programs that have been adrift: Third Frontier, Clean Ohio, Historic Preservation Tax Credits, Technology Investment Tax Credits, and the Ohio Capital Fund. Business leaders are not satisfied with the current advancement of these programs. I would push for a comprehensive review of the status of these programs and for a reinvigoration of them.”
On education, Jerse said he supports early childhood education, a focus on improving educational attainment and aligning curriculums with job opportunities.
Jerse said Ohio’s infrastructure needs to be rebuilt and the need far outstrips the funds currently dedicated to that task.
“A solid infrastructure attracts and sustains businesses; the rebuilding of the infrastructure brings high-paying jobs,” he said. “I would document and emphasize the need and advance the case that the rebuilding of the infrastructure would be a greater engine of economic growth than marginal income tax cuts, which disproportionately favor the wealthy.
As a State Representative, Jerse said he was a frequent spokesman for the Democratic Caucus on the most complex issues.
“Despite being in the minority, I authored two substantive bills, on day care safety and video voyeurism, that became law,” he said.
Yuko, 63, is a 17-year resident of Richmond Heights. He served as District 7 State Representative from 2005 to 2012.
If elected, Yuko said he would like to focus on economic development projects, education and “anything and everything” that will improve quality of life of the constituents.
“With plants closing, employers downsizing, combined with the need to attract new families to reside in vacant homes, it has become imperative that we create opportunities to fill abandoned buildings and clean up vacated work sites to attract businesses,” Yuko said.
He said children make up “30 percent of our population, yet they are 100 percent of our future.” He said from early childhood education to college education, he wants to provide the best opportunities for success.
“We must assist the parents and invest in the lives of our children from early childhood learning programs to compete with their classmates on the same level,” he said.
“Let’s look at our ‘rainy day fund’ as a means to address infrastructure challenges — from bridge replacements to pot hole repair. Revenues from Racinos could go to update our schools to provide our teachers an environment that encourages both learning and staying in school.”
As a State Representative, Yuko said he brought jobs with his casino legislation, as well as revenue for all 88 counties.
“In fiscal year 2013, Lake County received $2,599,000.51,” he said.
Lynch, 62, has served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives since 2013 and was a Bainbridge Township trustee from 2008 through 2011.
He said that he decided to run for Congress on behalf of conservatives who are fed up with politics as usual.
He aims to repeal Obamacare and defund it until that would happen, balance the budget by amending the Constitution with a balanced budget amendment, close the nation’s Southern border by using the National Guard until a fence would be built, and impose term limits of 12 years by constitutional amendment.
U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, 57, has served in Congress since 2013 and was Geauga County prosecutor from 1988 through August 2012.
Joyce said he has pledged to fight every day in Washington for Northeast Ohio.
He aims to continue to stop wasteful government spending and shrink the nation’s debt by getting Washington to operate on a budget, create good jobs, strengthen the economy and to continue work to repeal the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
Mary Samide has lived in Chardon for 47 years. She has served as Commissioner for 10 years and as the Republican Precinct Chair for 14 years. She served as a Munson Township trustee for 9 years.
"I am seeking this office to continue the excellent record I have as County Commissioner for the past 10 years and to serve the people of Geauga County," Samide wrote on her candidate questionnaire issued by The News-Herald.
Samide said the following items were accomplished during her 10 years as commissioner:
Moody’s upgraded Geauga County bond rating to Aa1 while other states and communities were downgraded.
14.7 million Safety Center will be paid off in less than 10 years after opening in 2005
State Auditor continuously gives Geauga County highest award for sound fiscal management with 2011 award with distinction (given to less than 5% of Counties) We have balanced county budget yearly without raising taxes. Geauga County receives Digital Technology award for outstanding use of technology countywide.
Extended Fiber Optic throughout county facilities. All Sheriffs vehicles have the latest
technology and presently we are installing the latest digital communication radios that bounce
signals between our 5 constructed towers in Geauga. This will help all fire, and safety
personnel countywide throughout all 16 townships, 4 villages, and one city.
We are continuing to build economic development through our 14 million dollar portfolio, and our
new small business incubator project. I plan to continue economic development while at the
same time preserving farmland and protecting the beautiful environment in Geauga County.
Our motto, which we put in place in 2004 is “Growing Geauga Greener economically and
environmentally.” These goals are not mutually exclusive of each other. We see them working
in tandem.
We have managed to keep all personnel working in Geauga County through a difficult economy
and have managed not to raise taxes. Geauga county has a 5.8% unemployment rate, and
property values have only gone down by 5%. We feel we have weathered the economic
downturn. Geauga County was ranked by Forbes magazine the 4
th
best place in the Country to
raise a family ,and we are ranked 1
st
as the healthiest in the state of Ohio during my tenure as
Commissioner. If re-elected, I plan to continue these aforementioned policies, committees, and
involvement.
