Special thanks to Documenters:
Rick Bohan, Christina Brunson, Nick Muffet, Brittany Nader, Philip Patnode, and Carol Sparkman.
Correction: A quote from Coley Smith Jr. of West Akron was misattributed in an earlier version of this article.
Education and the cost of groceries are two top-of-mind topics that Coletta Turneur feels politicians aren’t paying enough attention to this election cycle.
The 69-year-old West Akron resident wants to hear “how we’re going to spend the money to get better education for the public schools. And as well as lowering the prices of groceries.”
Turneur was one of more than 50 Northeast Ohio residents who took time to chat with Cleveland and Akron Documenters about the 2024 election.
In interviews with neighbors, friends, fellow parishioners and relatives, Documenters asked what issues people wished candidates were talking more about. North Hill resident Jordan Brunson, 19, agrees with Turneur that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump weren’t focusing on education enough.
Overarching issues such as climate change, reproductive rights and safety were on the minds of many.
But often people craved less spin and more detailed plans on how candidates would support the working class, seniors or people with disabilities left behind as rent and utility bills balloon. Or on promises to tend to roads in desperate need of paving.
Documenters also asked people what — if anything — might make them feel more connected to this election cycle.
In Akron, several of those interviewed said they felt connected to the process and engaged. But others were turned off by the “drama” of political discourse that fixated more on candidates’ personalities than on the people they would serve if elected.
“The bickering has led me astray from listening to debates and also to listening to campaign ads,” said Rosheadra Edwards, 45, of West Akron. “I wish it would kind of take a backseat to what the real issues are, and we try to magnify those real issues and bring some change.”
Akron Documenters build connections
Over three weeks in September and early October, Akron Documenters interviewed and recorded their friends, family members and others to hear their takes on the candidates and the issues on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Those interviewed by Akron Documenters break down this way:
- 19 years old – youngest respondent
- 85 years old – oldest respondent
- 77 years old – average age of respondents
- 66% of respondents identify as white
- 34% of respondents identify as Black or African American
- 8 – number of Akron neighborhoods represented
- 5 – number of cities, including Akron, represented
For each interview, Documenters asked participants around Greater Akron two main questions. Below you’ll find the questions and then a selection of responses.
Here’s what respondents in Greater Cleveland shared.
What is one issue or topic the presidential candidates are NOT talking about that you wish they were?
One topic I wish they were talking about is the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in corporate America.”
Rosheadra Edwards, 45, West Akron
Lawmaker term limits and the maximum age to serve their country, too… I would like to see … age limits for making laws.”
Raymond Wambsgans, 41, downtown Akron
Seventy-three-year-old Coley Smith Jr. of West Akron wants to hear more about senior citizens, though he said he doesn’t “believe in America’s politics” anymore.
Climate change was on the “back burner” for several of those interviewed, including former science teacher Marian Carcel of Stow.
I watched 25 years ago when a couple of scientists were saying the Earth is warming. And everybody else was saying, no, no, no … and more scientists said, yes, this is happening. It is really concerning to me. But right now, there’s bigger things, so I understand why they aren’t talking about it. But to me, that’s a major issue.”
Marian Carcel, 72, Stow
Education isn’t being discussed enough, according to at least two respondents. Jordan Brunson, 19, of North Hill, wants to hear ideas about reforming how teaching is done at all levels.
Sara Kinsinger, 31, of Northwest Akron, thinks candidates are “dodging” the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
I would like to see more done for the people in Gaza, but I just don’t think either candidate is going to do that.”
Sara Kinsinger, 31, Northwest Akron
Tightening up the gun laws so that the young people are not being able to purchase them off the streets. That’s what they’re doing. It’s getting to be a problem. Older people are afraid to go anywhere.”
Sally Foxx, 82, Green
Michelle Sales, 70, of Tallmadge believes that Black Americans aren’t getting enough recognition for their role in building the United States into a world power. And she doesn’t think any of the candidates focus on this topic.
The candidates, not just the current ones, but previous ones as well, always seem to leave information of race or trying to fix the race relations here in this country out… I just feel like they don’t do enough to correct, you know, the wrong that has been done even now in this country to Black and Brown Americans.”
Michelle Sales, 70, Tallmadge
Finally, Joe Jiamboi, 70, of Cuyahoga Falls thinks Harris is getting a lot of criticism about immigration and the U.S. southern border. He wants to hear more about the underlying problems behind undocumented immigration.
Trump has erroneously labeled her as border czar … She tried to do some groundwork, so to speak, to get at the root of the problem of why people are leaving and see what we could do to make things better for those folks’ home so they don’t need to flee. I don’t hear that talked about. And that’s something that I think would do her good if that were discussed.”
Joe Jiamboi, 70, Cuyahoga Falls
What, if anything, would make you feel more connected to this election cycle?
I don’t know if I could be more connected. Maybe if I got to go to one of Kamala’s rallies. But I’m so involved right now, I don’t think anything could make me more connected. I’m literally doing something every day.”
Marian Carcel, 72, Stow
I would be more connected if [there] wasn’t so much drama in the election. I just don’t like the way that politics [involves] slander and misinformation. I will be more connected if there just wasn’t so much disinformation. If it was just more factual. It’s hard to be connected with it when so many things are so outlandish and there’s so many lies. You have to really do a lot of weeding, do a lot of fact checking on information that is being put out by the candidates. Especially Donald Trump.”
Antonio Brunson, 48, North Hill
85-year-old Kathleen Arthur of Cuyahoga Falls feels very connected politically but would like to have seen Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in Ohio.
Other Akronites want less “bickering” and more solid information about how polticians plan to lead.
To feel more connected to the process, if they would explain to me what they are going to do once they become elected and showing me how they’re going to do it, explaining how they’re going to do it.”
Coletta Turneur, 69, West Akron
Roger Strong, 72, of downtown Akron feels more engaged than ever but was concerned that politicians weren’t talking enough about what is happening in Israel and Gaza.
Well, I already feel quite connected. I followed the debate and everything so far. I feel this is my most engaged in this election cycle. I was never extremely political before, but I feel very involved and rather up to date.”
Roger Strong, 72, downtown Akron
I do feel connected. I mean, I guess, if Kamala came by for a cup of coffee to my house that would be nice, but otherwise I do feel connected. I’m enthused, you know, I’m into it.”
Joe Jiamboi, 70, Cuyahoga Falls
Jiamboi also dislikes the common question pollsters ask about the direction of the country.
“The problem I have with that question is it’s going to depend wholly on who wins this election. You know, I think the opportunity for our country, providing Harris wins, is tremendous, better than it’s been in years and years.”
He also touched on the challenges that neighbors on different sides of the political spectrum may have understanding each other in a charged political season.
“My neighbor has some Trump signs up, and if I run into her, I’m just going to ask her a simple question. ‘Do you know what an autocrat is?’ If I run into her now that I’ve got all the Democrat signs in my yard and she’s got the Trump signs in her yard, I’m going to ask her, what do you think? Why? Why? What has Trump done to you?”
Learn more about Akron Documenters here, including how you can join this growing civic group.
