Stowsentry.com - Mayor of Stow faces newcomer in re-election bid / Incumbent Karen Fritschel is set to face off against Brian Walters Nov. 6

by Sean Gerski

Editor

Stow -- Incumbent Stow Mayor Karen Fritschel will face newcomer Brian Walters Nov. 6 in her bid for a second term in office.

Fritschel, 62, said she has "very much enjoyed being the mayor."

"I think we've been able to accomplish many of my goals after the last four years," she said, "but there are still things that I still want to work on that are good and interesting challenges for the city of Stow and all its residents."

Walters, 44, said he is running to "give people a choice."

"I want to let them know there is another option -- another viable option," he said.

Fritschel said she has unfinished business as the mayor of Stow.

"I want to still make economic development a high priority, and I want to establish a senior citizen center," she said. "We're still working on the regional dispatch center, along with the Seasons Road project."

Fritschel said she also wants to "continue looking at hiring more police officers."

"We have authorized eight officers since I've been mayor," she said. "Our overtime has gone down [by nearly] $180,000 [from approximately $1.434 million to approximately $1.256 million] since I've been the mayor. That's an issue that keeps popping up."

Walters said he can serve Stow by using his "business background and business acumen."

"Being the mayor is equivalent to being a CEO," said Walters. "It's more than having people like you. It's running a business -- in Stow's case, a $35 million business."

Walters said that part of the city's business is finding out how the incoming municipal court fits in with the city.

"The first priority is making sure that somehow the new courthouse can remain profitable," he said. "It's going to be a huge issue, be it for the next mayor or certainly the one after that."

Fritschel said the city has added new resources without requiring the residents to pay more taxes.

"The courthouse is not paid by taxpayers' money," she said. "It's by the user fees at the court. We are trying to live within in our financial means. Fox Den [Golf Course] has been successful the last two years since we've owned it."

Fritschel said her campaigning has involved going door to door, "knocking on people's doors and talking to them."

"I love doing that and speaking with residents to see what they have to say," she said. "I also have door hangers, which I've left on people's doors. I've put ads in the Stow Sentry, and I have a mailer. I always go to a lot of events, and I get feedback from residents."

Walters also has been busy on the campaign trail.

"I put some signs up," he said. "I've been knocking door to door. I will be sending out several mailers. It's basically grass roots at this level."

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