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

Description of Race/Referendum:

Vote for no more than one — term commencing Jan. 1, 2025.

The Summit County Fiscal Office assists county residents with various programs and services and can answer questions about real estate taxes and property values. Their office issues various licenses and maintains the county’s tax maps. 

Kristen Scalise

Kristen Scalise is a candidate in the Nov. 5 election for the Summit County Fiscal Officer's job.
Kristen Scalise is a candidate in the Nov. 5 election for the Summit County Fiscal Officer’s job.

Democrat

Candidate Email: kristenscalise@yahoo.com

Campaign phone number: 330-671-0754

Training/Experience: Summit County Fiscal Officer May 2011-Present.  Chief Deputy Fiscal Officer January 2000-May 2011.  Private Sector Accountant 1990 – 2000

Current occupation: Summit County Fiscal Officer

Website: voteforscalise.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VoteScalise

Education: Bachelors of Science in Accounting, University of Akron, 1989:  Certified Public Accountant- Conferred 1992:  Certified Fraud Examiner-Conferred 2008

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

I am uniquely qualified because I have a Bachelors Degree in Accounting, I am a CPA, as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner.  As a Certified Fraud Examiner, not only am I trained to investigate fraud, but more importantly to prevent fraud.   The Fiscal Office is the main depository for the entire County, and we process over 1 billion dollars annually.   I have put in place  policies, procedures and internal controls so that we balance to the penny on a daily basis.  I have been with the Fiscal Office for over 24 years and have served as the Summit County Fiscal Officer for over 13 years.  I am extremely knowledgeable of the services we provide and the programs we offer.

What are the top priorities you seek to address once in office and what strategies will you use to accomplish those priorities?

My first priority is to maintain the excellent customer service and consumer protection that we provide in the Auditor, Treasurer, and Recording Divisions of the Fiscal Office.

I will also continue to safeguard and protect over 1 billion dollars of taxpayer’s money annually.  It is my responsibility to ensure that the taxpayer’s money is invested safely.

Lastly, I will collaborate with other offices to create new programs that are efficient and cost effective.  I will continue to look for ways to better serve the citizens of Summit County. 

How do you describe your role as the Chief Assessor of Summit County?

It is the statutory responsibility of the County Auditor (Summit County Fiscal Officer) to assess a property’s market value.  It is also my responsibility to collect and disburse real estate taxes.  It is not the Fiscal Officer that establishes taxes owed, it is the Ohio Department of Taxation, through the Tax Commissioner, who establishes the amount of tax.  The Fiscal Office offers several programs to assist homeowners in meeting the obligation of paying real estate tax.  

Scott Sigel

Republican

Candidate Email: scott.sigel@gmail.com

Editor’s note: This 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.