Correction:

In the original article, Katie Reed's answer to the third candidate was incorrectly copied from another candidate's answers.
This article is part of the Voters Guide produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area.

Tavia Galonski is the Democratic candidate for the Summit County Clerk of Courts position.
Tavia Galonski is the Democratic candidate for the Summit County Clerk of Courts position.

Tavia Galonski

Democrat

Candidate Email: taviatheclerk@gmail.com

Training/Experience: Licensed to practice law in Ohio since 1995. Managerial and Customer Service experience since 1987. Trained Mediator. Trained as a CASA guardian ad litem. Fifteen years of course work through the Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College.

Campaign phone: 330-310-9565

Website: taviagalonski.com

Facebook: taviagalonski@facebook.com

Twitter: Repgalonski

Instagram: TaviaGalonski@instagram.com

Education: Graduate of the University of Akron School of Law, J.D.; Graduate of Emory University: B.S. in Psychology; Graduate of the University of Phoenix: MBA

Previous public office: State Representative 

Why are you the best candidate for the office?

I am the best candidate for the office of Clerk of Summit County Courts because I am currently the Clerk and I am doing the work every day. In addition, my years of training and experience as an attorney are invaluable for understanding the work of the Clerk and the needs of our customers. The Summit County Clerk balances the budget while managing four offices and almost 80 employees. I am the candidate with the most experience. The Summit County Clerk is the keeper of the records for the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of Appeals. In my work as an attorney, I have extensive training and experience working in the Courts. Whether as a mediator, magistrate or guardian, I have the training necessary to meet the needs of those using the Clerk’s office. I have served the public for well over 25 years and have superior customer service training and experience. I have earned the trust of the public and will continue to do so as the Summit County Clerk of Courts.

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

1) As the Summit County Clerk of Court, I intend to continue and have already started to create a smooth customer service experience for all users of the court.

2) I intend to and have already begun the work of improving response time and efficiency with regard to taking filings.

3) I currently have an excellent working relationship with the Courts, the Executive and the Fiscal Officer. I will maintain these relationships in order to make government work for anyone interfacing with the Clerk’s office.

What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?

I believe that training is the best way to improve and develop our employees to be the best that they can in customer service. As such, I will maintain excellent records of the training required and also commit to making sure such training is available to all.

The Clerk serves on several boards where interaction with the Courts, Executive and Fiscal Officer is integral. I will continue to participate on those boards and will offer meaningful guidance and assistance to my peers to make sure the Clerk is serving their needs.

To improve efficiency, I have requested an audit of our office to determine a baseline of our performance. I intend to use the results of the audit to improve our response time and productivity.

Katie Reed is the Republican candidate for the Summit County Clerk of Courts position.
Katie Reed is the Republican candidate for the Summit County Clerk of Courts position.

Katie Reed

Republican

Candidate Email: kmw5488@gmail.com

Training/Experience: Barberton Municipal Clerk of Court

Campaign phone: 330-701-2223

Website: www.electkatiereed.com

Education: Kent State University

Previous public office: Barberton Municipal Clerk of Court

Why are you the best candidate for the office?

I have spent over 5 years working in and with the Clerk of Courts Office, and 4 in the Barberton Clerk’s Office. In that time I have been able to make a number of improvements in terms of technology, security and making resources easier to use for my staff and the public. We have been able to secure a grant from the Ohio Supreme Court for $41,700 to further those improvements without raising court costs.

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

My first focus would be on increasing training, knowledge and communication. From there I would want to look at the flow of the office and make sure we are working in the most efficient way possible.

What strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?

There are resources available at little to no cost from different organizations, including the Ohio Supreme Court. I have taken advantage of those as Barberton Clerk of Court and I think it’s important to build on those foundations. I would also reallocate money within the budget to invest in training. We need an efficient Clerk of Courts Office that is not only knowledgeable but can effectively communicate with others. 

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.