LISBON — Six candidates are vying to sit on the Lisbon Village Council during the upcoming election Tuesday. Four seats are available. Those running include current council members Jerry Cox, Susan Temple and Tom Darcy, along with three challengers Tammy Roberts, Don Grimm and Melissa Hiner.
The Salem News did not receive a response to a questionnaire mailed to candidates in the months leading up to the election.
Jerry A. Cox
Cox, 55, Sunset Drive, is currently the senior account manager for Projectile Tube Cleaning Inc. The David Anderson High School alumnus also has worked as both a senior operations coordinator and an operation manager for National Heat Exchange Cleaning Corp., vice president of operations for Wi-Com Industries, the owner/operator of Jerry’s Lawn Care and as plant manager of RAS Manufacturing.
Married to Krista Zahrndt-Cox, he has three children, a stepson and four grandchildren.
Elected to village council in 2017, Cox has served on council from 2018-2021. Cox notes he has never lost an election, nor been appointed to a public body.
“I feel my professional responsibilities have helped me gain the qualifications needed to be a village council person,” Cox writes. “As a manager and operations director of several companies I am able to oversee operations with a focus on safety, I have developed strong teams to ensure efficient execution in the facilities, as well as, in the field. I have assisted with the development of annual budgets, operational standards, and strategic business goals. My employment with fabrication and my own personal business have given me the knowledge of equipment and the need for keeping them maintained and in good working repair.”
While on council Cox has served as the head of the committee for the street department, which has upgraded the dump truck, reconditioned plows, trailer and rollers. He said he developed a maintenance schedule in an attempt to keep what equipment we have in proper working order. The committee determined to upgrade the street department tractor, which is used for brush hogging and dry patching streets.
“We have worked hard at improving the conditions of the roads in the village, prioritizing, and repairing the ones that need the most attention,” Cox wrote. “I feel they have come a long way, but there will always be more work to be done.”
Cox said he also has worked with fellow council persons and village employees to complete the renovations of the fire department meeting room and the upgrades to the roof and outside of the building. He researched used but well-conditioned equipment and assisted in the purchase, delivery and equipping of the new fire truck for the village.
When Covid began, Cox said he was instrumental in organizing PPE for the street, fire and police departments, city hall, cemetery and park buildings through Covid Relief monies, which allowed for new sinks, toilets, hand sanitizers and water dispensers in all of our public facilities.
With cleaning a big part of his job experience, Cox said he has utilized this in scheduling the fire department to wash down bridge decks, park buildings, village hall and parking lots annually and street cleaning twice a year. The village has cleaned up the buildings in and around the Street Department and BPA buildings. He assisted in the reroofing of the park buildings, unclogged drains, paint removal and repainting preparation at the park; refurbished an old police vehicle for re-use of the parks director, once again utilizing refurbished, well-conditioned equipment.
“I believe that organizing, cleaning, and repairing what we can, will make the village not only function better, save money and look better as well,” Cox wrote. “I have focused on this and feel that I have helped make a positive impact and I plan to continue with the goals we have set if I get re-elected. I have enjoyed the last four years and I thank you for letting me serve this village.”
Thomas (Tom) Darcy
Darcy, 60, Pritchard Avenue, worked for 32 years with Sparkle Markets. A David Anderson High School alumnus, Darcy is married to Judy and has two children, Allison and Brian.
Darcy’s experience includes managing a business, managing employees and business finance. He has eight and a half years of experience on the village council, which is the most of anyone currently there.
“When I first ran eight years ago, I didn’t like a lot that was going on in village government,” Darcy wrote, “but after 8 and a half years on council, a lot of good things have happened in the Village of Lisbon and I would like to continue to help Lisbon be better. I also worry about the finances of the village and want to help control spending to keep the budget in control.”
Darcy said he is proud that he voted no against the lower pay raise for the police department when some members of council and the mayor proposed a lower pay raise. That pay raise was part of the income tax voters in Lisbon approved during a prior election.
Additionally, during his time on council, Darcy introduced information to council about the Ohio Attorney General’s Collection Enforcement Program, which the village is now using to collect income tax from those not paying and it is not costing the village to do so.
Donald (Don) Grimm
Grimm, 54, Sunset Drive, has worked at Ohio Pet Foods, Inc. for the past 31 years. Grimm currently serves as the production manager supervising more than 50 employees. The Lisbon company is responsible for the manufacturing of premium pet foods that are distributed throughout the United States and International markets.
A 1985 David Anderson High School alumnus, Grimm completed the Columbiana County Career Center marketing and management program. He has assisted with fundraising for the Lisbon Salvation Army Unit. Grimm is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lisbon and a member of the Clip Joint Share Bear Against Cancer team.
Grimm is married to Marti Grimm and has two grown children, Alyssa and Adam.
He has not served in public office before, but for many years he has served in a leadership position and part of a management team for a successful local company. Grimm said the team is not only responsible for guiding the operations of the business, but also must work together to establish strategic goals, policies, identify potential risks and coordinate resources.
“I believe my experience in this type of leadership position has provided me with the ability to work as a team with other council members in a positive manner that will lead to more unified approach to leading our community,” Grimm wrote.
Grimm said he does not have an agenda in mind in seeking office. He believes the village has made some great strides in the past few years by focusing on revitalization and encouraging community involvement in projects and events.
“Unfortunately, that has come with some divide among leadership,” Grimm wrote. “I believe my open-minded, common-sense approach would prove to be a positive move toward building an environment of mutual respect and cooperation. These are all vital factors as we need to establish a vision for the future of Lisbon, develop goals and plans, and work with the Village departments, partners, and residents to create the community we want to share with future generations.”
Tammy Roberts
Roberts, 63, Maple Street, has been the administrator of Smoke’s Deer Lures website since 2014. Prior to that, Roberts was a marketing representative for Lyle Publishing, where she promoted product awareness by attending various events, providing samples of the publication, the Farm and Dairy and speaking with potential customers. She and her late husband, Doc Roberts, co-owned a photography business, Posing with Pets. Her responsibilities as a business manager have included accounting, tax preparations, day-to-day scheduling, supplies and inventory management.
Roberts graduated with honors from Kent State University with an associate degree in Applied Business/Accounting Technology, after receiving her GED.
She is a current member of the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, which volunteers to take care of the village square throughout the year. Additionally, she is a volunteer at the Banquet of New Lisbon Presbyterian Church. Since the start of the Rural Community Action Partnership with the village, she has been involved in that project.
“With their assistance, we have been working on a vision for the betterment of our village in the future and how to achieve these goals,” Roberts writes.
A widow for the past two years, Roberts and her late husband have a total of eight children, 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
About 10 years ago, she ran unsuccessfully for Wayne Township clerk, but has not held a public office. However, Roberts has been attending council meetings for more than two years to gain a better insight on the inner workings of the village. She wants to use her strong financial background and believes she works well with others.
“I can make a positive addition to Lisbon’s Village Council,” she wrote, “as I bring a fresh perspective and new ideas. Some on village council remain reluctant to try new ideas even through their old ways haven’t worked in years. I am hard-working, honest and can think for myself. I want to make Lisbon better and I’m willing to put in the hard work as needed.”
Roberts said she will do more than just attend meetings twice a month and collect a paycheck. She believes in being actively involved in the community and trying to make a difference. Additionally, she plans to use her degree in accounting to help with discussions involving village finances. She said she is willing to make difficult decisions and stand her ground to make the correct choice, which might not always be the most popular one.
“I welcome all new ideas for the village,” Roberts said. “I am not a status quo kind of person, but one who is willing to pursue innovative changes for the betterment of our community.”
Susan Temple
Temple, 64, West High Street, has worked as a property manager for Belmont Properties for 32 years. She is an alumna of Mount Union University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in education, after graduating from Southern Local High School.
She has been on council for two years and is a member of the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, which is involved in taking care of the village square, including the Christmas display. Temple is also a volunteer at Angels for Animals (a pet rescue operation) and manages her own cat rescue (spay station). Temple is also a 10-year captain for the Relay for Life.
Her family includes her mother and a sister, who has two children.
During her two years on council, Temple has headed the public safety committee and been a member for the finance and street committees. She said she helps out where needed, volunteering in the cemetery and the parks. She actively listens to the concerns and problems of residents, seeks out input and tries to resolve those problems brought to her attention.
“I want to continue serving the residents of Lisbon,” she wrote. “I think that I bring new ideas and a fresh perspective to council. There is always room for improvement and I want our village to be as good as possible.”
Temple was the village’s representative during the negotiations with Center and Elkrun Townships, which produced a new fire service agreement she believes hopefully will lead to stronger cooperation and better fire service. She also helped the village secure $150,000 for the fire department from Ohio’s new budget, money that will allow the department to upgrade equipment.
Additionally, she has taken a leadership role toward trying to save the village swimming pool.
“I ran for council two years ago because I believed that the village needed a change from the old way of doing things,” Temple wrote. “Since my election, I have been open to new ideas and new programs that benefit the village.”
She feels being a councilwoman is about more than attending council meetings. It is about being actively involved in the community and helping out with events throughout the village. She sees progress and would like to continue it. Additionally, she said she has a good working relationship with the trustees in Center and Elkrun Townships and the village chamber of commerce.
“Communication is key,” she said. “We are all in this together.”
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