Two face off for law director; finance director race uncontested

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by Colin McEwen

Reporter

Stow -- The candidates for the city's law director and finance director races are taking their final steps in their campaigns for office.

Christina Gary, 31, is running against the current deputy law director Brian Reali, 36, for the law director position.

"I've been going door to door," said Gary. "I'm talking to as many people as I can to make myself available to them."

Gary, who is the assistant public defender in the municipal division of the Cuyahoga County Court, has been practicing law for six years, and has 11 years of experience in the legal field.

Gary said she wants to implement new programs in the city's law office, such as a mediation program to settle neighborhood disputes without criminal charges, and a first-time offender program.

"I think we need a new perspective on legal matters," she said. "All too often, I see 18-year-olds getting into trouble. Unless they are serious offenses, we don't want our young adults starting out with a criminal background."

Reali said he believes his eight years of experience as Stow's deputy law director will aid him if he becomes law director. He said he decided to run for law director because he enjoys serving the community.

"I like what I do," he said. "The great thing is that if I do my job well, then a regular person is helped."

Reali said 80 percent of his campaign has consisted of visiting residents, stating he has stopped at more than 4,000 homes.

"I kiss my wife and kids goodbye, and then I go out walking," he said. "For me, it's about elbow grease and sweat equity."

Current Law Director Joe Haefner cannot run for re-election, because his second four-year term is up this year.

Finance director
race uncontested

John Baranek, 52, who is running unopposed for the city's finance director position, said he enjoys serving the city. Although he has no competition, Baranek said he is going out into the community to talk with residents. "I've been attending a lot of city events so I can get feedback from residents," he said.

Baranek said in the future he would like to offer tax assistance to residents.

"I like working with residents to make sure that things get done in a financially responsible way," he said.

E-mail: cmcewen@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3916