Voters back school levies and Issue 2 in low-turnout Portage County election

Portage County voters delivered key wins for public infrastructure and school funding during Tuesday’s primary election, even as turnout remained low.

Just 13% of the county’s registered voters cast ballots in the May 6 primary, according to unofficial results from the Portage County Board of Elections.

Kent City Council primary

In Kent, five Democrats competed for three at-large city council nominations. Benjamin Tipton, Tracy Wallach, and Sarah Elizabeth Wesley secured the most votes and will advance to the November general election, where they will face Republican Cecil Anderson. Of the four candidates in November, the top three will take seats on Kent City Council on Jan. 1, 2026. 

Read our interviews with the Democratic candidates.

Ravenna, Mogadore levies pass

Voters approved school levies in Ravenna and Mogadore, providing much-needed funding for districts under fiscal caution from the state.

• Ravenna narrowly passed a 5.47-mill, five-year property tax levy to generate $2.75 million annually for the district. The margin was slim: 1,291 in favor to 1,239 opposed.
  
• Mogadore, which spans Summit and Portage counties, saw comfortable passage of a 5.93-mill, six-year operating levy aimed at avoiding a deficit. The final tally was 845 to 528 (with the vote 270-196 in Portage County).
  
• Streetsboro, however, rejected a proposed 5.0-mill continuing levy that would have raised $3.885 million annually. Voters turned it down 1,293 to 568.
  

Voters in Aurora renewed a 5.61-mill levy for current expenses, and Springfield Local Schools passed two renewal levies that had failed in November, helping the district maintain operations while under fiscal watch.

Ohio approves Issue 2

Portage County voters joined others across the state in approving Issue 2, a constitutional amendment renewing the State Capital Improvement Program. The measure allows Ohio to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds over the next decade to fund infrastructure improvements, without raising taxes.

The vote was 9,936 to 4,393 in Portage County and 588,251 to 279,873 statewide.

The program has already funneled over $100 million in grants and $20 million in low-interest loans to Portage County communities since 1987, supporting more than 550 projects like roads, sewers, and bridges.

Local officials from both parties supported the amendment, noting its importance in avoiding funding gaps and maintaining essential infrastructure.

See our coverage of Issue 2.