by Amanda Harnocz
Reporter
Stow -- All seven Stow City Council seats are up for grabs Nov. 6, and all the incumbents but one are seeking additional terms.
Five people are running for the three at-large seats available for Stow City Council. Also, two candidates are seeking the Ward 1 seat and two are running for the Ward 3 seat. The incumbents for Wards 2 and 4 are running unopposed.
All Council terms are two years long and will commence Jan. 2, 2008.
At-large candidates
At-large incumbents Ron Alexander, Janet D'Antonio and Sara Drew are seeking additional terms in office. Current Ward 3 Councilmember John Wysmierski is not seeking another term as the Ward 3 Councilmember, but instead is running for one of the at-large seats. Kenneth Sawders is the only newcomer competing for an at-large seat.
The top three vote-getters running for the at-large seats will be elected to those posts.
Alexander, 63, said he is seeking another term because he, "enjoys serving the residents of the city of Stow. I think it's important if you have the opportunity to give back to your community to do so."
Alexander has served on City Council for 12 years, was president of Council for two years and has served as chairman of the planning committee for seven years. He also was the first chairperson of the mayor's economic development council in 2004.
Alexander said his campaign efforts have involved talking to residents.
D'Antonio, 64, has been on Council for 12 years. She is seeking another term because, "I love what I'm doing and I want to continue to do it."
She has made her sentiments known in a number of ways.
"I've campaigned at a Stow football game," said D'Antonio. "I've been out delivering literature door-to-door, putting up signs and basically talking to people in different neighborhoods."
Drew, 37, also has been campaigning by doing literature drops, posting yard signs and going door to door.
"I would like to have the opportunity to continue the work that I've done the past two years," she said. "I feel that I have more to contribute to Stow and our community."
During her first term, Drew has served on all four City Council committees.
Wysmierski, 41, decided to run for an at-large seat in an effort to serve a larger portion of the city.
"I was getting many requests for additional assistance" outside of Ward 3, he said.
Wysmierski, an eight-year veteran of Council, said he hopes his efforts to speak to residents and hand out magnets and fliers will win him an at-large seat.
Sawders, 41, said he is "running to represent the city."
"I believe I can do a good job," he said.
Sawders, who said he has been "doing almost no campaigning," is running on "what my name gets me."
Sawders said he "worked with all branches of government in the state of Ohio," and believes he has "a good deal of common sense, and that could be something useful in City Council."
Ward 1 candidates
Ron Gauthier, 69, is seeking another two-year term as Ward 1 Councilmember, and resident Matt Riehl is opposing him.
Gauthier, who serves as Council president, has been on Council for eight years.
"I've established myself as a responsible politician and Councilman for the people I represent in Ward 1," he said.
Gauthier has been involved with Stow for the past 40 years.
"I know everyone in the city," he said. "I know all the employees, which makes it beneficial for the constituents in Ward 1. I know how to get things done."
Gauthier said he has been campaigning by distributing brochures and going door to door.
Riehl, 24, a lifelong resident of Stow, said he "wants to give back to the community."
"I think it's time for a change in the city of Stow," he said. "I want to bring a positive and fresh voice to the City Council."
Riehl said he has knocked on 2,000 doors during his campaign, stating, "I think it's extremely important."
He also mentioned, "I have experience serving the people at three levels of government -- city, county and federal."
Ward 3 candidates
John Pribonic and Brian Lowdermilk will compete for the Ward 3 seat Nov. 6.
Pribonic, 46, is a 15-year resident. He currently serves as president of the Stow-Munroe Falls School Board.
"It's been an interest and dream of mine to go ahead and be on Council," he said.
Pribonic said he believes his involvement on School Board, his business background and being involved in city activities gives him "a pretty good grasp on what is going on here at Stow ... I want to make Stow a great city to live in."
Pribonic said he has campaigned by visiting residents door to door.
Lowdermilk, 44, said he believes he could be a successful Councilmember for several reasons.
He said in dealing with the city's sewer repair program, he has a "record for fighting for residents of Ward 3 and getting the assessment and rebate program available to all Stow residents."
Lowdermilk said he wants to continue these efforts and "keep taxes reasonable, eliminate wasteful spending, and provide services people deserve."
Wards 2, 4 unopposed
Jim Costello, 59, is running unopposed for the Ward 2 seat, and Mary Bednar is running unopposed for the Ward 4 Council seat.
Costello, who currently serves as Council vice president, said he has been on Council the past four years.
"I've had fun doing it for the past four years and I think I've been able to represent my constituents," he said.
Because he is unopposed, Costello said he has done very little campaigning.
"I would love to go door to door, [but] working full time does not allow me that opportunity," he said.
Bednar, 40, has been on Council for two years and plans to "put an advertisement to thank people for their trust and continued support."
She said she is running again because, "I want to continue doing service for the city."
E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3947