This article is part of the 2025 General Election Voters' Guide produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area.

Richard Brandenburg is running for the Ward 3 Green City Council seat.
Richard Brandenburg is running for the Ward 3 Green City Council seat. (Photo courtesy of Richard Brandenburg)

Richard Brandenburg

Nonpartisan

Campaign phone: 330-418-4835

Campaign email address: : Brandenburg4Council@gmail.com

Training/experience: 26 years of Corporate Finance / 4 years Green City Council

Website: www.ElectRichardBrandenburg.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Vote4RichardBrandenburg

Education: Master’s Degree in Accounting

Previous public office: Green City Council – At Large

Why are you the best candidate for the office?

In 2025, there are no finance professionals on Council.  With my experience as a CPA and City of Green Councilman, I am focused and equipped to serve our residents and keep our city financially sound.  Over the past 25 years, I have helped businesses, non-profits, individuals and the City of Green to be successful.  My experience includes in-depth work in the areas of accounting, audit, debt, decision making, economic development, process controls, taxes and more.  Strength in these key finance areas is necessary for our city to be successful, and I will share my knowledge in these areas with the other members of Council and the Mayor to help us make informed decisions that benefit residents and help our city to be financially strong. 

What are the top priorities you seek to address once in office?

  1. Keeping our City Financially Healthy – My day-to-day work is helping businesses, non-profits and individuals to manage their financial affairs and to focus on what’s important to them.  On Council, I will work to keep our city financially secure.
  2. Protecting our residents – As a former City Council member, I am proud to have supported the Green Fire Department and Summit County Sheriff by voting for the resources they needed to keep us safe.
  3. Building strong families – In my first term on Council, I supported our partnership with Green Local Schools and the families served.  I also serve as Treasurer of the GLS Foundation and, since 2018, have helped GSF provide grants and scholarships.
  4. Cherishing our parks – As a City Council Member, I chaired the Environment & Parks Committee for 4 years because I have seen the value quality parks and recreation bring to Residents’ well-being and happiness.  On Council, I introduced and supported many of the park improvements we now enjoy.

What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?

  1. Financial Health – Too many cities carry a debilitating load of debt and are no longer able to provide the services their residents need.  As a result, they may also have high rates of tax and numerous special levies that burden residents.  I pledge to vote No on all new taxes or tax increases and Yes to paying our debts off early.
  2. Protecting our residents – Ward 3 has some of the longest emergency response times.  However, we have $3M set aside and have the equipment necessary to shorten these times.  I will work with members of council to implement a solution and keep us safe.
  3. Building strong families – Families are the foundation of Green and always have been.  Too many cities have prioritized growth over residents.  I will always vote to preserve our city’s family-first focus.
  4. Cherishing our parks – I support seeking grants, making direct investments and partnering with state and federal organizations to expand our park offerings and provide the amenities we need.

Rick Miller

Party: Nonpartisan

Editor’s note: The candidate did not respond to requests for information.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.