Trending
NEWTON FALLS -- Four candidates are seeking to fill the 1st Ward seat on village council.
Patricia Benetis, Jaime Kline, Michael Kren and Julie Lemon are running for the seat in the May 2 primary.
Current 1st Ward Councilman Gideon "Bud" Fetterolf will not seek re-election. He was named to fill the term of Michael Serotko, who stepped down in 2022.
BENETIS
"I have been asked numerous times to run for city council starting back in the '80s when two council persons' homes were shot up," Benetis said.
"These were two upstanding gentlemen but some people in town were not happy with the way business was being conducted. At that time, I was a full-time teacher, coach, wife and mother. Now I have the time and energy to throw my hat into the ring and hopefully bring some stability to Newton Falls."
Benetis said she wants to see the village police department return, and residents have made this known to council.
She said she is concerned that money is being spent frivolously. Benetis said City Manager Pam Priddy paid someone $5,000 to have a meeting during the day when people are working to discuss how to improve the village.
"I believe council at the present time is not willing to work together. It seems it is always a vote of 3-2 on any measure. Once in a while, it is 4-1, but that is very seldom," she said.
She said council should follow the will of the majority and be willing to listen.
"I am willing to listen and decide what is the best solution. No one is correct 100 percent of the time," Benetis said.
She said she believes members of council should be upstanding members of the community, and there should be transparency.
"Whether the public is for or against you, don't misconstrue the facts. Let the public know," she said.
KLINE
Kline, who said she is no relation to Mayor Kenneth Kline, said she decided to run for council because there is a need for change on who is representing the people of the 1st Ward.
"It's time for a definite change in Newton Falls," she said. "I hear council candidates say they want to listen to their constituents to get the votes.
"Once they get in , they do the exact opposite. I'm tired of the good people of Newton Falls being ignored and taken advantage of. We have been ignored and are suffering because of this issue. When is enough going to be enough?"
Kline said she wants to focus on working for the village to get it back "in a happy and safe place to live and to raise children and grandchildren."
Kline said she attends meetings regularly to know what is taking place and to hear what information the officials and council members have to share with residents. She said she will focus on keeping residents informed.
KREN
Kren said he wants to focus on improving the financial stability of the city and work toward better economic development.
He said he wants to find ways to bring more people to the meetings and encourage them to listen and participate in future changes for the city.
"We need to use the resources and opportunities in this city, and find ways to expand on them for further / future growth and to run this village in the best positive ways for the citizens and businesses," Kren said.
He said he wants to see a stop to pointing fingers at the past doings of the village. He said council must listen and move forward and not continually live in the past problems of Newton Falls.
"I think what I'm looking to do is improve on what we have and make changes for the betterment of this village. Use the resources we have and continue in a positive mode rather than arguing and moving in a negative mode," Kren said.
"I think we have some good opportunities in this city, and we need to continue to use them and expand on them. I would also want to try and improve our financial ability to do that and work towards the best way for economic development to happen," he said.
Kren said he wants fresh ideas to be part of the process.
LEMON
Lemon said she is running because she is tired of seeing the village continue "to spiral down a path of destruction" and is tired of some of the elected leaders failing to uphold the charter and work for the best interest of the community.
"To me being a leader means the ability to work with others, to hear and listen to their thoughts and opinions and be able to find a compromise whenever possible," she said.
"Being a leader does not give anyone the right to seek vendettas and cause the citizens of this community to pay the price for them. I will not vote for my own personal gain or my own conscience. If elected, I intend to vote the will of the residents in my ward because that is the way it should be."
Lemon said a main issue is the police department, noting she does not believe that the administration and council explored all of the village's options. She said the police department also is a main concern of the residents, who have told her they want a police department with officers that have built a good rapport and relationship with residents.
She said economic development is important and "the mom-and-pop shops are the heart of our community. We all need to support and encourage their businesses."
Lemon said she also would like to research more industrial and housing development opportunities to help grow the community.
Lemon said she would like to see more activities and opportunities for children and and senior citizens.
"As a community, we get as good as we give. My love for my community is grounded. This is my home and I want to work with the council, the administration, and most of all my neighbors to make it a place we can all be proud of," Lemon said.