Levy gets go-ahead; new faces on city council

by Judy Stringer

Hudson voters said yes to Issue 9, a 5.5-mill operating levy for the Hudson City School District at the Nov. 7 polls, according to final unofficial Nov. 9 results from the Summit County Board of Elections. Collections for the levy, which will net the district $7.2 million of tax revenue annually, will begin in 2024. The issue passed with 6,194 votes, or 50.8% of the vote.

Current school board members Laura Jones and Tom Tobin will remain on the Hudson City School Board with 6,337 votes (30.8%) and 5,348 votes (26%), respectively. Challengers Matt Romano, with 4,529 votes (22%), and Mark Justice, 4,335 votes (21.1%), came up short in their bid for one of two open four-year terms.

In a separate board race, Mark Dzurec won the competition to complete former school board President David Zuro’s expired term, which goes through the end of 2025. Dzurec got 5,735 votes (55.2%), besting Matthew Clapper, who came away with 4,654 votes (44.8%).

School board members are compensated $80 per meeting for up to 24 meetings a year.

New council members

Hudson City Council will welcome two new faces, Patricia Goetz and Mike Bird. Goetz earned 1,732 votes (64.6%) for the Ward One seat vacated by Kate Schlademan. Goetz beat Todd Zedak who had 946 votes (35.3%). For Ward Two, Council President Chris Foster, with 1,464 votes (55.7%), held his post against challenger Madeline Lepidi-Carino, with 1,163 votes (44.2%). Write-in candidate Michael Donovan, with 477 votes (22.5%), was not able to unseat current Ward Three Representative Skylar Sutton, who ran away with 1,638 votes (77.4%). Finally, Scott Ruffer, appointed to council earlier this year following the resignation of Beth Bigham, did not hold off newcomer Mike Bird. Bird had 1,430 votes (55.8%) against Ruffer’s 1,130 (44.1%).

During their four-year terms, council members are compensated $80 per meeting for up to four meetings a month. ∞