MASSILLON – A dozen candidates for City Council are on the ballot on Election Day, but only half are involved in contested races.
The at-large race features three Republicans and one Democrat seeking to fill three seats on council. The Ward 2 race features incumbent Councilman Eric J. Ray, a Democrat, against former GOP representative Aaron J. Violand.
Election Day is Nov. 4. Early voting is underway.
Republicans have a 7-3 advantage on City Council, which includes President Mike Slater, who’s running unopposed. Members are elected to two-year terms.
Massillon council members earn about $8,000 annually, while the council president earns slightly more.
Longtime council incumbents Jill Creamer, D-Ward 4, and Ed Lewis IV, R-at large, are not seeking re-election.
At-large Massillon council race features four candidates
Incumbents Holly Bryan-Huth, a Democrat, and Sarita Cunningham, a Republican, are seeking reelection to three at-large seats, along with Republicans Antonio Guillan and Mandwel Patterson.
Huth, 50, said she wants to continue helping the city move forward. She was appointed to the at-large post in early 2024.
“I was happy to secure the seat and excited to continue the work we’ve started,” Bryan-Huth said. “It’s nice to have two years under my belt.”
Bryan-Huth cited council’s passage of the international property management code in Massillon as a success.
“Ensuring our residents have nice neighborhoods (was key),” she said.
Bryan-Huth grew up in northeast Massillon, graduating from Central Catholic High School in 1993.
She works as a child life specialist in private practice and held a similar position at the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office.
Bryan-Huth cited three key issues for the city: attracting new business, boosting economic growth and preserving the city’s downtown.
“I want a more vibrant and robust downtown, and more of a focus on tourism,” she said. “It should be our goal to have more people shop and eat in our downtown.”
Cunningham, 76, represented Ward 1 from 2013 to 2019 and is seeking her second at-large term.
The owner and operator of Massillon Quickprint for 50 years said she’s running to bolster the city’s safety forces and streets.
“I think we’ve been moving our city forward in a positive way (the past two years), and our council is cooperative among each other,” Cunningham said. “I really love our city.”
She cited the Wales Road NE widening and renovation project as a major benefit for Massillon residents. She said bringing more manufacturing and information technology jobs to the city are future goals.
Cunningham said she feels energized and remains enthusiastic to be on council.
“I still have a lot of stamina and listen well,” she said. “As long as the citizens trust and vote for me, I may stick around for awhile longer.”
Guillan, 46, said the door is open for the GOP with Lewis’ departure, and said potentially working with Mayor Jamie Slutz makes seeking the at-large post worthwhile.
“I saw an opportunity this year to fill the ticket, and would like to help grow our city,” he said.
Guillan is a 1997 graduate of Washington High School and operates Katalina Wireless, a mobile phone distributor based in the city. Helping government work more efficiently is a main reason for seeking office, he said.
He also wants to encourage limiting the number of city ordinances passed on an emergency basis or with less than three readings.
“I think having three readings encourages more discourse,” said Guillan, who also works as a Ohio High School Athletic Association softball umpire and swim and dive team official.
In addition, Guillan said has served as a Girl Scout leader for his daughter Katalina’s troop.
“I’ve felt that a (transition) from family focus to community focus could be my calling,” he said.
Patterson, 49, said helping to grow his hometown is a primary reason why he’s running for office.
“I want to help everyone make smart decisions and expand our tax base,” said Patterson, noting that the idea of working with Slutz in city government is attractive. “I’m running for the (at-large) seat and not really against anyone.”
Patterson, a 1994 graduate of Washington High, is the owner and operator of Invictus Capital Management, a financial advisory firm based in Jackson Township.
He had previously worked in the administration of former Canton Mayor Janet Creighton, serving for eight years as executive director of the Canton Community Improvement Corp.
“I’ve cut my teeth in politics before,” said Patterson, noting that a goal if elected would be retaining, growing and attracting new businesses to Massillon and improving city roads.
“Let’s do more to incentivize companies to come here,” he said.
Ward 2 Massillon council race pits former GOP member against incumbent
The Ward 2 race is a rematch. Ray is defending his post against Violand, who lost to Ray for the seat in 2023.
Ray, 47, works as a general construction contractor and is the owner and operator of Ray’s Reconditioning, which started seven years ago in Massillon. He is a 1996 graduate of Washington High.
Ray cited passing legislation last year to allow two recreational marijuana businesses to open in the city as a success for the community.
“That was big and will get us some revenue,” said Ray, adding that he’s still learning the job of councilman.
“I really care about my community, being a voice for Ward 2 and getting things done in decent order,” he added.
Looking ahead, Ray said, he’d like to see City Council work to establish inspections for short-term rental properties and attract more business to Massillon.
In addition, helping to form neighborhood associations citywide is also on Ray’s to-do list.
“I think having more associations would centralize (or streamline) the complaints we get as city officials,” he said.
Violand, 45, is an assistant prosecuting attorney in the civil division for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office. He is a 1998 graduate of Central Catholic High School.
He was appointed by Stark County Republicans in 2022 to replace former Ward 2 GOP Councilman Jim Thieret, who had resigned, but then Violand lost in the November 2023 election to Ray.
Responding to constituents will be paramount if elected, Violand said.
“I like to communicate with people, and they will always hear back from me,” said Violand, noting he doesn’t have a primary focus or main issue to tout in the campaign.
“My concerns will be what constituents think is important,” he added. “I will listen to them.”
Violand acknowledged that attracting more business to Massillon is important, and said helping people through noise issues in 2022 was rewarding.
“I enjoyed being able to help when I could,” he said.
In addition to Slater, incumbent council members running unopposed are: Seth Marcum, R-Ward 1; Mike Gregg, R-Ward 3; Julie Harwig-Smith, R-Ward 5, and John Paquelet, R-Ward 6.
Former council president Tony Townsend is running unopposed for the Ward 4 seat.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon GOP looks to hold or add to its majority on City Council | Ohio election 2025
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
