WARREN — The race for the 5th Ward city council seat in Warren features three candidates, including one incumbent, Tiffany Stanford, an independent, running against Republican Ashley McBride and Democrat Michael Shrodek.

ASHLEY McBRIDE

McBride, who previously served as 5th Ward councilwoman, is running to bring new energy and her “blunt honesty” back to council.

“The city is outdated… We need somebody who can reach out to our state legislators and pursue money for capital projects,” she said.

McBride also talked about economic development, citing her past work with State Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, to explore a grocery store project she said stalled.

McBride sees basic maintenance as a priority, pointing to vacant houses, overgrown yards and streetlights as “common sense stuff” needing attention.

“It’s not complicated…cut some grass, do something about it,” she said.

She also supports livestreaming council meetings to make them more accessible, especially for elderly residents, and suggests council members offer rides or absentee ballot applications while going door-to-door speaking with the community to increase voter turnout.

McBride said she was vocal about the need for a council member who lives in the ward, claiming Stanford does not live in the ward. She referenced a Board of Elections hearing where her son, Jason Miner, challenged Stanford’s residency, but no action followed.

MICHAEL SHRODEK

Shrodek said he has lived in the 5th Ward for nearly 30 years and taught for several years in nearby Niles.

“I’m a lifelong Warren resident… I’ve been committed to Warren, and I want to help out in any way I can,” he said.

Shrodek said he prioritizes public safety, proposing one police officer per ward for all three shifts to deter crime and reduce response times.

“It’s a deterrent. They’re not going to go where a police officer is patrolling a ward,” he said.

He also supports a drone program to aid police in tracking suspects in difficult areas. Infrastructure is another concern, with Shrodek already reporting 42 streetlights for repair. He points to a clogged ditch near the former Devon Elementary School causing road damage on Central Parkway, claiming, “The road started caving in… they’ve never fixed that issue.”

Access to grocery stores is a key issue for Shrodek, who sees the southeast side as underserved.

“The northeast side and the northwest side have grocery stores, but other than the southwest side, we’ve got all that land,” he said.

He suggests sites like Ridgeview Plaza for a new store.

To boost accessibility, he suggested council start livestreaming council meetings and adding he’d like to see council allow phone-in participation, saying, “People who can’t make it for whatever reason, they’re working, they don’t have transportation, should be able to phone in.”

TIFFANY STANFORD

Stanford, who has served two years, views her time on council as a learning experience and takes pride in advocating for her constituents.

“I’m very prideful in always doing what my constituents are asking for,” she said, highlighting her fight to restore removed traffic lights, though she couldn’t sway the full council.

Stanford secured $1.5 million for a 5th Ward community center and oversaw the repaving of Brier Street, which was unpaved for 20 years, by working with neighborhood groups like SESCA. Stanford’s priorities include ensuring the ward gets its “fair share” of investment and addressing speeding issues.

After discussions with Warren police, she said she supports speed cameras to ticket offenders strategically. She also supports the idea of more community engagement, recently funding a movie night to hopefully build connections among the residents in her ward.

Stanford said that if neighbors know each other they’d be more likely to go the extra mile in helping one another.

On residency concerns raised by opponents, Stanford responded, “Yes, I, along with my opponent, own a home outside of our wards. Mine is in Bazetta and his is in Geneva. I do have a place on Belvedere Avenue and this matter was settled with the board of elections. At best, this is an attack because I look so young that I shouldn’t be able to have two homes and at worst the attack is racial and I hope my opponent is better than that.”

She said she has lifelong ties to Warren, including her children’s education and her downtown boutique business.

Both Shrodek and McBride questioned Stanford’s residency, an issue previously raised in a January 2024 Tribune Chronicle article.

With low voter turnout expected, all candidates urge residents to make their voices heard. Shrodek said he has walked to 2,600 homes, McBride pushes for easier voting access, and Stanford works with groups like Warren Forward to educate voters.