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

Jodi R. Padrutt

Nonpartisan

Campaign email address: padruttjodi@gmail.com

Education: RN, MSN – Master of Science in Nursing Administration

Training/experience: Registered Nurse with experience in leadership, education, director-level roles, program management, published authorship, and business owner.

Previous public office: Peninsula Village Council, Peninsula Fire Board, Peninsula Zoning Board of Appeals

Why are you the best candidate for the office?

With over 25 years of experience managing programs and budgets across nonprofit, for-profit, and federal sectors, I bring a strong foundation in leadership and fiscal responsibility. I’ve previously served on the Peninsula Village Council and on boards including the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Valley Fire Board. As a lifelong resident of Peninsula, I regularly attend Council and Planning meetings and have a deep understanding of issues facing our Village.

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

Guiding Principles:

  • Residents come first in every decision
  • Our Village’s heritage matters as we navigate change
  • Open, thoughtful deliberation on key issues
  • Respectful and professional conduct at all times
  • Fair enforcement of laws and elimination of conflicts of interest
  • Clear, accessible communication with residents
  • A system that ensures officials are educated on the laws and standards of their roles

What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?

Commitments to Residents:

  • Listen and respond to residents
  • Set a standard for respectful conduct and deliberation
  • Support timely, effective communication with residents
  • Lead by example through education on laws, particularly Sunshine, Ethics, and Public Records
Daniel Krachinsky is running for one of four open seats on the Peninsula village council.
Daniel Krachinsky is running for one of four open seats on the Peninsula village council. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Krachinsky)

Daniel Krachinsky

Nonpartisan

Education: BS Accountancy

Why are you the best candidate for the office?

I have been a Peninsula Village resident for over 35 years.  I had a long career in corporate accounting at a Fortune 500 corporation and have significant experience working on teams with other professionals. 

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

Peninsula Village is a great place to live and raise a family.  I want to see Peninsula continue to thrive as a community.

What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?

Peninsula is a small town. My primary strategy will be to reach out to village residents and identify and address their concerns.

Moe Riggins

Nonpartisan

Campaign email address: rigginsmo@gmail.com

Campaign phone: 330-608-6851

Education: Self educated and learned skills through work and life experiences

Training/experience: I have completed and received my certification of the Sunshine Law, and have completed studies of the Ohio Ethics Laws.  I am reviewing Roberts Rules of Order and am continually finding and reading materials that will help me perform my duties for Village Council. 

Why are you the best candidate for the office?

I have lived between Peninsula and Boston Township for almost 50 years. I attend both Council, Planning Commission, and all other Village meetings on a regular basis, and I am not afraid to speak up.  My only agenda is to represent the residents of Peninsula, and to protect their interests.

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

Making sure that the residents are at the forefront of any decisions affecting our Village.  More attention needs to be brought to the safety of our residents, due to the influx of the tourist trade.  Including traffic problems and trespassing.  Abiding to all laws and regulations within the village and our governing bodies, with absolute transparency. Conflict of interest in our governing bodies is an issue and we must keep very aware of it’s influences.  Civility and respect must be brought back to our Village meetings. All must be welcome to voice their concerns and opinions, without fear of reprisal or bullying.  

What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?  

Be present and available to residents.  Make sure that when something is approved in Council, that the language isn’t changed after the vote. Listen to all points of views and make informed and fair decisions. Embrace transparency and accountability in all proceedings of anything to do with Peninsula, and be willing to compromise, when it is in the Village’s best interest. Above all, show respect to all, including anyone who might not agree with me. Together we can find common ground to solve our differences. 

Amy Frank-Hensley

Nonpartisan

Training/experience: 34 Years of Profession Leadership Experience – Expert in Process Efficiency, Faciliation and Strategic Planning

Previous public office: Mentor Library Board of Trustees – Appointed (2008-2018)

Education: CLARKSON UNIVERSITY Mechanical Engineering & Business Ethics BPS LEMOYNE COLLEGE Physics BS

Campaign email address: amyfh330@gmail.com

Website: villageofpeninsula-oh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Frank-Hensley-Amy.pdf

Why are you the best candidate for the office?

I’m one of the best because I bring a practical, resident-first approach to leadership. I’m not a new face—I’ve been showing up, listening, and participating long before this election. I know the issues because I’ve lived them alongside you and worked to address them. I don’t have a fixed agenda—I’m here to act on what matters most to residents. My background in community service, collaborative leadership, and problem-solving means I know how to get things done without drama or delay. I’m committed to improving communication, so people feel informed, respected, and involved—not left guessing. I also bring creativity to the table, always looking for fresh, realistic ways to solve problems and make participation easier. “Your voice, your village, your values” isn’t just a campaign line—it’s how I lead. If you want someone who shows up, follows through, and puts people first, I’d be honored to earn your vote.

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

Transparent Communication

I’m committed to making village updates clear, consistent, and accessible—so residents always know what’s happening and why. I want people to feel informed, not left guessing.

Resident-First Engagement

I prioritize listening to residents and responding to their concerns. I’m not running with a fixed agenda—I’m focused on what matters most to the people who live here.

Creative Problem-Solving

I bring a fresh, practical approach to council work. Whether it’s improving outreach or tackling everyday issues, I look for smart, creative solutions that fit our village.

Trustworthy Leadership

I want to make it easier for everyone to participate—especially those who feel too busy or burned out to engage. My goal is to make civic involvement feel welcoming, not exhausting.

What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?

I’m committed to acting on the new master plan with clarity, consistency, and community input. That means not just referencing the plan—but using it as a guide to make thoughtful, forward-looking decisions that reflect our shared priorities. I also believe the way we conduct council meetings matters just as much as the outcomes. I’ll advocate for improved processes, respectful discussion, and full transparency in how decisions are made. Following Ohio’s Sunshine Laws isn’t optional—it’s essential to building trust. Residents deserve open access to information, timely notice of meetings, and a chance to understand and engage with the work of their local government. I’ll work to ensure our meetings are productive, inclusive, and easy to follow, so everyone feels welcome to participate and confident in how our village is being led.

William Cole

Nonpartisan

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

Lori Dooley

Nonpartisan

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

John Patrick Najeway

Nonpartisan

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

Jim Nash

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.