Aurelio Diaz is facing a challenge from political newcomer Joetta McCreuter-Polk to represent Mansfield’s 5th Ward.
Diaz, an Independent, is finishing his first term on council. He referenced the diversity on the current council, which features four minority members.
“We’re on a good path with council,” Diaz said. “It’s been eye-opening. It’s been exciting, and it’s gone too fast.”
A native of San Antonio, Diaz moved to Mansfield when he was three and has lived here most of his life. He graduated from Mansfield Senior in 1995.
McCreuter-Polk is a Mansfield native and a 1980 Mansfield St. Peter’s graduate.
“I feel that I can be a voice for families, for my neighbors, children and for seniors on the North End,” she said. “It’s almost as if the needs we have for the North End have been kept quiet, and no one’s doing anything about it.”
Diaz has worked to fight homelessness
Diaz talked about his focus on several issues. He has been a longtime advocate for the homeless.
“I’ve been on the frontlines of trying to fight youth violence, homelessness and blight,” he said. “I wanted to approach it like outreach and not political.”
That is why Diaz switched to be an Independent in 2022. He had been a Democrat.
“I feel like there’s a place for parties, but, for me personally, it has not served me well,” Diaz said. “Parties tend to focus on majority and winning. It’s distracted me from helping people.”
He encouraged voters to do their homework, saying he doesn’t vote “for somebody because they have a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ beside their name.”
McCreuter-Polk earned a degree in journalism from Ohio State University. She wanted to be a news anchor, but her mother didn’t want her to be far from home.
She spent most of her career in public relations, starting at Richland County Children Services as a foster-care recruiter.
McCreuter-Polk has worked at Children Services
“The need is still great,” McCreuter-Polk said. “It was a wonderful place to work for me. It was life-changing in that I felt I was the voice for so many children who couldn’t speak about what they were going through.”
She later worked in Franklin County to recruit for adoptive homes. McCreuter-Polk is retired but plans to return to foster-care recruitment with New Mercy Outreach.
Diaz said he originally wanted to be a rock star but has settled into a career that has involved working with people with disabilities.
He was a case manager at Richland Newhope for about 15 years.
“I love that. That’s my tribe, people of all abilities,” he said.
More recently, Diaz served as a community organizer for the North End Community Improvement Collaborative before being laid off earlier this year.
Diaz now works for OhioRISE, working with youth in a variety of needs. OhioRISE is a part of Coleman Health Services.
He said going door-to-door would be part of his campaign strategy.
“I told myself to make it fun this year,” Diaz said. “The last time, it was stressful.”
McCreuter-Polk recently spearheaded a campaign to have a street near Providence Baptist Church renamed in honor of the late Pastor Verdell Larson.
“If I’m able to get something like that done quickly, imagine what can be done if I am in office,” she said.
In 2014, McCreuter-Polk was battling breast cancer. She was told she had 6-8 months to live.
“God allowed me to live to come back and do something to help others in the community,” she said.
Diaz says he is transparent. He has vowed to be visible in the community.
Diaz said trash and blight are “huge” issues in the 5th Ward, which is why he has organized monthly cleanups.
He shared a couple of other concerns.
“A lot of folks we’re seeing who are homeless are young,” Diaz said. “Elders have a lot of trust issues because they have had broken promises.”
He listed youth violence as another issue.
McCreuter-Polk agreed with her opponent, pointing out there is “nothing for our children.”
“When I was a little girl, I remember swimming at Ford Hill Pool,” she said. “I really want to make a pool. There has to be a way.”
McCreuter-Polk also wants to see affordable housing and more accessibility to grocery stores. She said Walmart and Meijer are not convenient locations for many North End residents.
She suggested scheduling meetings to show residents what resources are available, as well as talking to police to foster more positive relationships.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X: @MarkCau32059251
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Election 2025: Diaz, McCreuter-Polk vying for Mansfield City Council 5th Ward seat
Reporting by Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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