The 11-member Summit County Council makes budget decisions that affect all aspects of the county and its residents. While there are more candidates on the ballot representing all of Summit County, District 7 is one of the six whose elected official will represent parts of Akron and appear on its residents' ballot.
Democrat Ryan Shank, who graduated from the University of Akron in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, wants to win a spot on County Council because, he said, “If you want to get something done, you have to do it yourself.”
The 25-year-old Barberton resident, a machine operator in Akron, said he wants the County Council and local representatives from both parties to work together so Summit County is at “the forefront of potential state and federal investment into Ohio” to help bring good union jobs to the area.
Shank would like County Council to try to solve food insecurity by coordinating with food pantries and soup kitchens to ensure they get the supplies they need. On crime, he wants to ensure law enforcement is properly funded. He also wants the council to work with police and sheriff’s departments across municipalities.
“I’ve talked with people in my community, and they agreed that we need people who are willing to do the work — not just during election time and not just during times that are politically convenient,” he said. The county needs “someone who’s going to be committed to the task, is going to do the job every day they go in and is going to actually make meaningful changes in our communities.”
Two ways to find your council district:
Map of Summit County Council districts
Map by Summit County Council districts including ward precinct boundaries.
Shank said his background makes him the best person for the role.
“It’s high time that we start looking at other avenues besides the same politicians over and over again,” he said. “My family has a saying, ‘If you want problems to be talked about, you give them to a politician. But if you want your problem solved, give it to a working-class person.’”
‘It’s important to be accessible to people’
Shanks’ opponent, Republican incumbent Bethany McKenney, has served as the District 7 council member since she was first elected in 2018. She said she has a track record of caring about constituents that speaks for itself.
“I really love serving people, just finding ways to bring county resources to people that may not know that they even are there,” McKenney said.
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Among the contributions the New Franklin resident made in the area are a homeowner tax discount clinic she created to help people sign up for property tax discounts. McKenney, 57, said the program has been a particular help for seniors who may have trouble continuing to afford their homes. McKenney wants to expand the program into Kenmore.
If re-elected, she said she will continue to meet with her constituents in regular public office hours. The office hours, in different communities across the district, allow her to hear residents’ concerns and help them with issues.
During the coronavirus pandemic, McKenney also used her council position to create and lead a team of volunteers who brought food to homebound seniors at the Barberton Area Community Ministries food pantry. Now, she leads a growing group carrying on these efforts after the pandemic.
The council member said her job as a nurse prepared her for her current role because she had to work hard and solve problems.
“I am a good bet because I’ve already shown strong leadership and have brought a really caring perspective into this role,” McKenney said. “It’s really important to be accessible to people. It’s important to be out in the community.”
