The 2024 elections are in the rearview mirror, but Portage County’s 2025 election season has already revved up. Elected officials whose terms expire Dec. 31 face filing deadlines, some as early as Feb. 5.
(Treasurer John Kennedy’s term expires in August, but voters have already selected Joe Bica to fill that post.)
Board of Elections Director Faith Lyons advises all would-be candidates to contact the BOE for specific details about petitions and elections, as they are not uniform.
None of the candidates face term limits. The maximum age for a judge to be elected is 69, but Portage County Municipal Court Judge Melissa Roubic, the only county-level official whose seat opens in 2025, is well below that cut-off.
Partisan candidates for the Portage County Municipal Judge position face a Feb. 5 filing deadline. Nonpartisan candidates have until May 5.
The following Portage County municipalities have filing deadlines this month:
Kent’s filing deadline is Feb. 5. Leaders whose terms will be expiring are:
- Mayor Jerry Fiala
- At-large council member Michael DeLeone
- At-large council member Gwen Rosenberg
- At-large council member Roger Sidoti
Streetsboro’s filing deadline is Feb. 5. Leaders whose terms will be expiring are:
- At-large council member Jon Hannan
- At-large council member Steve Michniak
- At-large council member Justin Ring
Ravenna’s filing deadline is Feb. 20. Leaders whose terms will be expiring are:
- At-large council member Cheryl A. Wood
- At-large council member Amy Michael
- Ward 1 council member Paul Moskun
- Ward 2 council member Tyler Marovich
Aurora does not participate in primary elections, and would-be candidates face an Aug. 21 filing deadline. Leaders whose terms will be expiring are:
- Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin
- At-large council member Peter French
- Ward 1 council member Brad Duguay
- Ward 3 council member Reva Barner
- Ward 5 council member Sarah Grdina Gilmore
Like the city of Aurora, Portage County’s villages, townships and school boards do not participate in primary elections. Candidates for those positions will face Aug. 6 filing deadlines.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.