Overview:
This article is part of the 2025 General Election Voters' Guide produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area.
Kevin Powell
Nonpartisan
Training/experience: I’m incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed a 35-year career in public service, spanning everything from utilities to executive management, dedicated to making a meaningful impact in every role.
Education: Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies Associate Degree
Why are you the best candidate for the office?
I’m incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed a 35-year career in public service, spanning everything from utilities to executive management, dedicated to making a meaningful impact in every role.
My extensive background in local government provides a distinct advantage in serving effectively as a councilman. Over the past four years, I have leveraged this experience to enhance operational efficiency within the City of New Franklin. Notable achievements include the timely development and adoption of operational budgets prior to each fiscal year, as well as the implementation of streamlined processes for procuring vehicles and equipment—both contributing to improved fiscal responsibility and service delivery.
What are the top priorities you seek to address once in office?
As a councilman I will continue to focus on fiscal responsibility, managed and meaningful growth, and preserving our community. Achieving fiscal responsibility requires finding innovative ways to do more with less while ensuring that essential services remain uninterrupted.
As the cost of daily operations and needs continues to rise, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain appropriate staffing levels for our safety forces and city personnel. These teams are the backbone of our community, and their ability to serve effectively must not be compromised.
Conversations with residents consistently reinforce a shared sentiment: no one wants to see a decline in service quality, nor do they support increases in taxes. This underscores the importance of making thoughtful and difficult decisions that weigh long-term sustainability against immediate needs. I remain committed to navigating these challenges with transparency, and a deep respect for the values our community holds dear.
What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?
The strategies I will continue to use are as follows: Zero-based budgeting: Require departments to justify all expenses from the ground up, not just incremental increases. Public-private partnerships: Collaborate with local businesses and nonprofits to co-fund community initiatives and services. Technology upgrades: Invest in digital tools that streamline operations, reduce paperwork, and improve service delivery. Grant acquisition: Establish or strengthen a team dedicated to identifying and applying for state and federal grants. Performance audits: Regularly assess city programs for cost-effectiveness and eliminate redundancies.
Stephen Yacono
Nonpartisan
Campaign Phone: 330-685-3385
Training/Experience: Served on New Franklin’s Park & Rec Commission since 2019
Campaign email address: chefyakie01@yahoo.com
Previous public office: New Franklin Parks and Rec Commission
Why are you the best candidate for the office?
I feel I’m the best candidate for office because I’m a fresh face that is anxiously wanting to listen to what concerns the residents of New Franklin. I have been involved with mentoring the younger generation by volunteering my time coaching several local baseball and softball teams, since 2007. I also have served on the Manchester Youth Baseball and Softball league board from 2011- 2019, as the Field Maintenance Manager, then Equipment Manager. For the last 6 years, I have been on New Franklin’s Parks Commission, where we have come together to push old, forgotten ideas, back out front and make them a reality. I want to do what I can to help the concerns of the public. I don’t have a horse in any race but the citizens of New Franklin. They will always have a sympathetic ear. An ear that will listen and follow thru with what’s best.
What are the top priorities you seek to address once in office?
To find out where the city is planning to go in the years ahead and get that plan publicized, if it isn’t already shared. I want to see what the city hasn’t done, that might have been discussed in the past and get those plans back at the forefront.
What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?
I will talk to the older citizens, that have lived here, almost their entire lives and see what was discussed years ago, that was promised to improve the community, but has since been empty promises.
Eric Stiles
Nonpartisan
Editor’s note: The candidate did not respond to requests for information.
Judy Jones
Nonpartisan
Editor’s note: The candidate did not respond to requests for information.
Robert Klusty
Nonpartisan
Editor’s note: The candidate did not respond to requests for information.