Portage County’s board of commissioners is composed of three Republicans, but this November a Democrat is hoping to replace one of them.
A graduate of Crestwood High School and Kent State University, Democrat Jenny Adams operates childcare centers in Brimfield and Kent. She is a member of Portage County CASA, which raises funds for children in kinship and foster care, and serves as a board member of Celebrate Portage, which organizes a range of activities to recognize the people and businesses working to make Portage County a vibrant community.
Incumbent Mike Tinlin, a Republican, served with the Portage County Sheriff’s Office and later rose to the rank of assistant chief with the Hudson Police Department. He retired in 2003 as chief of the Aurora Police Department. He has also served communities as a firefighter, and formerly owned and operated Community Ambulance in Garrettsville. He is a former Streetsboro City Council member.
The Portager presented each candidate with identical questionnaires, and here presents their answers, lightly edited for style:
How would you address the county’s aging infrastructure? What needs attention now and what do you anticipate will need attention in the coming years?
Tinlin: I will continue to work with our team to put together a strategic plan. Keep in mind, one commissioner cannot make anything work without the others. Everything must be voted on by all three.
Adams: The buildings that the county owns are very old. We spend over a million annually for repairs. At some point we’ll need to identify space for a new building and develop the plan to fund it.
How would you address food and medical attention deserts – the many places in Portage County where access to grocery stores, food pantries and medical services is limited or nonexistent?
Adams: The southern townships, like Windham, have the least availability for these services. We have partners in the community that would be able to help with this. I would advocate helping more with general fund dollars to set up mobile medical practices, as well as pop-up grocery stores.
Tinlin: We as a board have assisted with food and medical. Through ARPA funds, the board presented $1,000,000 towards food pantry assistance. Programs through our JFS and AxessPointe have come together to help with the must-need medical assistance.
How would you improve affordable, sufficient public transportation?
Tinlin: The board signed a letter of support to PARTA. They have expanded their routes to Streetsboro and Aurora. JFS is another county service if you qualify.
Adams: We need to partner with PARTA on a more robust system. It means money, but I believe that having a larger pool of workforce availability could be a draw for companies to come here, knowing their employees have transportation.
What would you do to address homelessness in Portage County?
Adams: We have many partners in Portage County that can help address this issue. I'd like to support them more fully with the resources they need.
Tinlin: JFS, Veterans Services and Shepherd’s House assist with the homeless (just to name a few). Recently a new shelter was introduced to the county. Tommy's Place is located on Lover’s Lane in Ravenna. I am always available to discuss any ideas and concerns.
What would you do to improve services and safety for people suffering from mental health issues in Portage County?
Tinlin: I'm very proud of our county Mental Health and Recovery Board. Our board just signed a contract for assistance with our jail population. Again, working with the other two commissioners, I can't do anything as one person.
Adams: Portage is blessed to have many fine agencies that the county can partner with more fully to help solve this problem. I think these agencies need space and dollars. Hiring a grant writer as a county employee could help identify more funds to help solve these problems, too.
County commissioners don’t have unlimited amounts of public money. Where would you take money from to fund needs you have identified?
Adams: Tough choices have to be made. We need to start with the statuary requirements, which state what we need to fund by law, and then prioritize from there.
Tinlin: Keep in mind that everything comes together as a team effort. I have watched and heard people say "I will do this. I will change that.” Keep in mind that it's about the residents and their money. It's a team effort. I will continue to prioritize the needs of our county. I will follow with working on the wants as funds allow. I have said that for years.
What is your stand on data centers and why?
Tinlin: Unfortunately, this is not a commissioner decision. As of this point in time, data centers are solely a city, village and township zoning issue. I have continued to meet with public officials and the public. I believe our residents have made a no data center plea very clear. I agree and I work with and for those residents.
Adams: Given there is no longitudinal data on possible effects from these hyper scale models to people, environment and power consumption, we need to take a conservative approach and halt development. While data centers have existed since the ‘40s, these large sites are new. Portage residents deserve to know all the data and be given a vote in something that can affect their everyday life.
There is grassroots and statehouse support for significant property tax reform and even property tax elimination. What is your position on this issue, and why? Should reform or elimination go though, how as a county commissioner would you replace those dollars locally?
Adams: I do not support the elimination of property tax. When I’ve asked these groups how would the money be replaced, the vague answer is, “They will figure it out.” For the last 29 years, “they” haven’t been able to figure out the unconstitutional way in which schools are funded. I have little faith that this could be resolved, either. The one tool that commissioners have is sales tax, if it's passed. It would have to be raised to compensate for removal of property taxes.
Tinlin: I totally feel a tax reform is needed. Let's go back to pre-COVID and start again from there. No one should have to endure the surprise tax increase that was brought upon us. Unfortunately, we can't go back in time and undo what was done. If you don't have kids in school, if you are retired, if you are a veteran or you are disabled, you should not have to pay property taxes.
Are there any issues you find important that weren’t addressed here?
Tinlin: I would love to see all public officials working on one common goal: Serving the residents of Portage County.
Adams: Another priority of mine are our veterans. By law, they are allowed to draw a specific percentage of the general fund. They have been good and careful stewards of this money. If elected, I would make sure that they are always funded, and their budgetary requests met.