Fewer than 20% of registered Akron voters weighed in on which of the eight candidates for the Akron Board of Education should earn one of the four open seats.

Despite low turnout rates across the city, neighborhoods on the west side of Akron with the highest voter turnout — particularly the blocks near and to the north of West Market Street — dramatically influenced the overall outcome of the race.

Signal Akron reviewed data for all of the candidates in the 118 precincts in Akron that are in the Akron Public Schools’ district boundaries — each has between 750 and 1,159 registered voters — and found which neighborhoods most strongly affected which of the candidates were elected in the school board race. 

Candidate Karmaya Kelly greets supporter Carol Dezso at the Phil Montgomery watch party at Missing Falls Brewery on Nov 4. Kelly was successful in her first bid to win a seat on the Akron school board.
Candidate Karmaya Kelly greets supporter Carol Dezso at the Phil Montgomery watch party at Missing Falls Brewery on Nov 4. Kelly was successful in her first bid to win a seat on the Akron school board. (Christiana Cacciato / Signal Akron)

How we analyzed the school board results

Candidates for the Akron school board received a total of 66,403 votes, though it is unknown how many people actually weighed in. Each voter in the district could choose up to four of the candidates on their ballot  —  one for every open seat on the board  —  but they were not required to use all four selections.

The numbers below represent the percentages of the total votes received, not the percentages of people who actually voted for the candidates. In only one precinct did a candidate get more than 25% of the vote, which is only possible when voters do not use all four of their selections. In that precinct — a tiny sliver of Copley Township that sends kids to APS schools — seven voters chose Carla Jackson, earning her 28% of the 25 total school board votes cast. 

Results in green signify the best-performing precincts and red signifies the worst-performing precincts for each candidate, whose initials are on the markers showing their results. Click the sidebar icon on the top left of the map to toggle viewing options.

Winning Akron school board candidates

1st place: Phil Montgomery with 17.2% (11,424 votes)
2nd place: Gregory Harrison with 14.75% (9,796 votes)
3rd place: Karmaya Kelly with 14.64% (9,724 votes)
4th place: Nathan Jarosz with 13.96% (9,272 votes)

Unelected Akron school board candidates

5th place: Gwen Bryant with 12% (7,971 votes)
6th place: Carla Jackson with 10% (6,900 votes)
7th place: Diana Autry with 8.82% (5, 869 votes)
8th place: Cynthia Blake with 8.22% (5,458 votes)

High-turnout neighborhoods on Akron’s west side affected who won

Phil Montgomery was the top vote earner in more than 60% of Akron precincts and dominated the precincts with the best voter turnout. The former Ward 8 Akron City Council member swept the top 16 precincts with the highest voter rates as well as 26 of the top 30 precincts. 

The precincts with the highest voter rates also helped propel Nathan Jarosz to the fourth and final seat in a close competition with fellow Democrat Gwen Bryant. Jarosz was the top vote winner in only three precincts — including two where he was tied with Montgomery — and finished last in 22 precincts. Bryant won six precincts and was last in only five. 

But Jarosz narrowly edged out Bryant for the fourth and final spot with help from a strong showing in neighborhoods on the west side. The top 10 precincts for voter turnout in the city  —  in Highland Square, Merriman Hills, Wallhaven and Fairlawn Heights — each gave Jarosz the second-most votes behind only Montgomery, while Bryant cracked the top four in those precincts only once. Jarosz beat Bryant by 733 votes in those 10 precincts alone.

Results in green signify the best-performing precincts, red signifies the worst-performing precincts for each candidate, whose initials are on the markers showing their results. Click the sidebar icon on the top left of the map to toggle viewing options.

Gregory Harrison was ranked in the top four candidates in each of those top 10 precincts, while Karmaya Kelly was in a winner’s position in all but one, where Byrant edged her out. 

While the newly elected school board members dominated the areas near to and  north of West Market Street and to the west of North Main Street, each disproportionately struggled in West Akron and Sherbondy Hill and other areas throughout the city.

Akron Board of Education candidate Phil Montgomery looks at results and celebrates his win with board member Barbara Sykes at Rocknes in the late evening Nov 4. Montgomery and two other newcomers won seats on the board, along with incumbent Gregory Harrison.
Akron Board of Education candidate Phil Montgomery looks at results and celebrates his win with board member Barbara Sykes at Rocknes in the late evening Nov 4. Montgomery and two other newcomers won seats on the board, along with incumbent Gregory Harrison. (Christiana Cacciato / Signal Akron)

Phil Montgomery, 1st place (17.2%, 11,423 votes)

  • 1st place in 72 precincts (three ties)
  • Top four in 96 precincts
  • Last in one precinct

Notable

  • 1st place in fundraising ($20,790 reported)
  • $1.82 raised for every vote received
  • Montgomery received the most votes in 26 of the top 30 precincts for voter turnout percentage, including a clean sweep of the top 16 precincts.

Best five precincts:

  • 22.84%  —  8-G (Merriman Hills)
  • 22.75%  —  1-D (Merriman Hills)
  • 22.5%  —  7-I (Firestone Park)
  • 22.26%  —  8-P (Northwest Akron)
  • 22.24%  —  1-E (Merriman Hills)

Worst five precincts:

  • 7.36%  —  4-N (West Akron)
  • 8.21%  —  4-L (West Akron / Sherbondy Hill)
  • 9.39%  —  3-G (Sherbondy Hill)
  • 9.45%  —  3-C (Sherbondy Hill)
  • 8.72%  —  3-I (south of downtown)
Dianne Fuller and Rhonda Hawkins talks with incumbent Akron school board member Gregory Harrison as he arrives at Phil Montgomery's watch party on Nov 4. Fuller and Hawkins both went to high school with Harrison, and said they were proud to support him with their votes.
Dianne Fuller and Rhonda Hawkins talks with incumbent Akron school board member Gregory Harrison as he arrives at Phil Montgomery’s watch party on Nov 4. Fuller and Hawkins both went to high school with Harrison and said they were proud to support him with their votes. (Christiana Cacciato / Signal Akron)

Gregory Harrison, 2nd place (14.75 percent, 9,796 votes)

  • 1st in six precincts (two ties)
  • Top four in 99 precincts
  • Last in one precinct (tied)

Notable

  • $0.77 raised for every vote received
  • 4th-highest in fundraising ($7,530 reported)

Best five precincts

  • 20%  —  6-A (Fairlawn)
  • 17.93%  —  1-G (Highland Square)
  • 17.86%  —  7-A (Firestone Park)
  • 17.82%  —  1-I (Highland Square)
  • 17.81%  —  1-D (Merriman Hills)

Worst five precincts

  • 8.9%  —  1-L (University of Akron area)
  • 9.72%  —  3-L (South Akron)
  • 10.31%  —  4-L (West Akron / Sherbondy Hill)
  • 10.51%  —  10-H (Goodyear Heights)
  • 10.65%  —  3-I (south of downtown)
Signal background

Karmaya Kelly, 3rd place (14.64%, 9,724 votes)

  • 1st place in 12 precincts (two ties)
  • Top four in 98 precincts
  • Last in one precinct (tied)

Notable

  • $0.67 raised for every vote received
  • 6th most fundraising ($6,555 reported)
  • Not registered to a political party but endorsed by Democrats and progressive organizations

Best five precincts

  • 19.63%  —  1-H (Highland Square)
  • 18.75%  —  3-J (University of Akron campus)
  • 18.75%  —  3-L (South Akron)
  • 18.73%  —  1-K (West Hill)
  • 18.43%  —  4-H (West Akron)

Worst five precincts

  • 10.11%  —  8-B (Merriman Valley)
  • 10.37%  —  7-K (Coventry Crossing)
  • 10.55%  —  9-C (Kenmore)
  • 10.58%  —  6-L (near Akron-Fulton airport)
  • 10.75%  —  5-G (South Akron)
Akron Public School candidate Nathan Jarosz (left) talks with Omar Banks during a watch party at Missing Falls Brewery. Jarosz won a seat on the Akron Board of Education Tuesday.
Akron Public School candidate Nathan Jarosz (left) talks with Omar Banks during a watch party at Missing Falls Brewery. Jarosz won a seat on the Akron Board of Education Tuesday. (Christiana Cacciato / Signal Akron)

Nathan Jarosz, 4th place (13.96%, 9,272 votes)

  • 1st place in three precincts (two ties)
  • Top four in 73 precincts
  • Last in 22 precincts (two ties)

Notable

  • $1.11 raised for every vote received
  • 2nd-highest fundraising ($10,320)
  • Jarosz finished in the top four in only one instance where Montgomery wasn’t also in the top four.

Best five precincts

  • 21.43%  —  6-A (Fairlawn)
  • 19.28%  —  7-I (Firestone Park)
  • 19.11%  —  1-D (Merriman Hills)
  • 19.03%  — 8 – O (Wallhaven)
  • 18.74%  —  1-H (Highland Square)

Worst five precincts

  • 4.99%  —  4-L (West Akron / Sherbondy Hill)
  • 5.42%  —  3-G (Sherbondy Hill)
  • 5.93%  —  4-J (West Akron)
  • 5.96%  —  3-E (Sherbondy Hill)
  • 6.07%  —  5-G (South Akron)

Gwen Bryant, 5th place (12%, 7,971 votes)

  • 1st place in six precincts (one tie)
  • Top four in 45 precincts
  • Last in five precincts

Notable

  • $1.05 raised for every vote received
  • 3rd-highest fundraising ($8,366)

Best five precincts

  • 19.32%  —  4-L (West Akron / Sherbondy Hill)
  • 17.50%  —  4-B (Wallhaven)
  • 17.28%  —  8-H (Fairlawn Heights)
  • 16.99%  —  5-I (East Akron)
  • 16.73%  —  3-B (Sherbondy Hill)

Worst five precincts

  • 5.69%  —  1-K (West Hill)
  • 6.73%  —  3-J (University of Akron area)
  • 7.47%  —  7-A (South Akron)
  • 7.80%  —  10-J (Goodyear Heights)
  • 8.16%  —  10-A (Middlebury)

Carla Jackson, 6th place (10.39%, 6,900 votes)

  • 1st place in 18 precincts
  • Top four in 45 precincts
  • Last place in 8 precincts (two ties)

Notable

  • $0.47 raised for every vote received
  • 6th place in fundraising ($3,256 raised)

Best five precincts

  • 18.52%  —  3-I (south of downtown)
  • 18.03%  —  5-A (North Hill)
  • 18.02%  —  5-K (East Akron)
  • 17.65%  —  3-C (Sherbondy Hill)
  • 17.18%  —  3-A (Sherbondy Hill)

Worst five precincts

  • 5.19%  —  1-E (Merriman Hills)
  • 5.25%  —  1-F (Highland Square)
  • 5.63%  —  8-H (Fairlawn Heights)
  • 5.67%  —  1-D (Merriman Hills)
  • 5.71%  —  6-A (Fairlawn)

Diana Autry, 7th place (8.82%, 5,859 votes)

  • 1st place in four precincts
  • Top four in 16 precincts
  • Last place in 43 precincts (eight ties)

Notable

  • $0.20 raised for every vote received
  • 7th in fundraising ($1,164 raised)

Best five precincts

  • 18.2%  —  3-F (Kenmore)
  • 17.06%  —  4-N (West Akron)
  • 16.26%  —  4-L (West Akron / Sherbondy Hill)
  • 16.23%  —  4-J (West Akron)
  • 15.74%  —  4-K (West Akron)

Worst five precincts

  • 4.01%  —  8-I (Fairlawn Heights)
  • 4.29%  —  6-A (Fairlawn)
  • 4.45%  —  8-H (Fairlawn Heights)
  • 4.53%  —  1-D (Merriman Hills)
  • 4.74%  —  1-H (Highland Square)

Cynthia Blake, 8th place (8.22%, 5,548 votes)

  • 1st place in 0 precincts
  • Top four in 10 precincts
  • Last place in 50 precincts (seven ties)

Notable

  • $0.18 cents raised for every vote received
  • 8th in fundraising ($975 reported)

Best five precincts

  • 13.94%  —  9-I (Kenmore)
  • 13.86%  —  3-E (Sherbondy Hill)
  • 13.84%  —  5-L (East Akron)
  • 13.77%  —  2-I (Chapel Hill)
  • 13.5%  —  3-F (Kenmore)

Worst five precincts

  • 1.43%  —  6-A (Fairlawn)
  • 3.53%  —  1-H (Highland Square)
  • 4.22%  —  1-F (Highland Square)
  • 4.43%  —  1-I (Highland Square)
  • 4.49%  — 8 – O (Wallhaven)

Government Reporter (he/him)
Doug Brown covers all things connected to the government in the city. He strives to hold elected officials and other powerful figures accountable to the community through easily digestible stories about complex issues. Prior to joining Signal Akron, Doug was a communications staffer at the ACLU of Oregon, news reporter for the Portland Mercury, staff writer for Cleveland Scene, and writer for Deadspin.com, among other roles. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hiram College and a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University.