Four candidates running for two Hinckley trustee seats

Monique Marzullo Ascherl, 46, incumbent Education: She is a University of Akron graduate in sales and marketing. Family: She has a husband, Jim, and a son, Michael. Job history: She is national account manager with Great Lakes Brewing Company. Website: On Facebook at "Monique Marzullo Ascherl as Hinckley Trustee" Russ Paintiff, 62 Education: He attended Tri-C and the Ohio State University. He also has a degree in business administration and is a Microsoft certified system engineer. Family: He is married to his wife Liz and has four children named Breanne, Julian, Annika and Kyle and three grandchildren named Amalind, Bjorn and Lucy. Job history: He is currently director of operations for Integrated Services Corp. in Akron. Website: N/A Tom Schrader, 62, at time of election Education: He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Hiram College and a master's degree in international business from Baldwin Wallace University. Family: He was born and raised in Parma and lived there until 1999 when his family moved to Broadview Heights. His family bought property in Hinckley in 2012 and built their forever home. He has been married to Shari for 40 years, and they have two adult children and two grandchildren. Job history: He has spent his entire career in manufacturing, starting as a machinist and ultimately becoming company president. He has worked for a small, privately owned three-person company. He has been an owner/partner of a 20-person company and been president of a more than $100 million publicly traded company where he was responsible for hundreds of teammates. Website: On Facebook at "Tom Schrader for Trustee" Jack Swedyk, 68, incumbent Education: He has been certified through Federal Aviation Administration certification programs. Family: His wife is Colleen, and his son is Jay. Job history: He spent his career working at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport for 38 years. He served as the airport operations manager. He currently serves as a Hinckley Township trustee. Website: On Facebook at "Jack Swedyk for Hinckley Township Trustee" HINCKLEY TWP. — There are four candidates running for the two open seats on the Hinckley Township board of trustees as part of the November election. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Marzullo Ascherl: "I am seeking reelection to continue the momentum our current board has created. We have had great success with increased communication and transparency. Residents can now view meetings on our township website, YouTube or Facebook page. We have created quarterly newsletters and returned the trustees corner. The efficiency of the current board has helped make all these changes possible, including expanding township office hours without increasing overhead. We have renegotiated a new single-hauler trash contract at a lower monthly rate for our residents and cut monthly expenditures by changing to electronic notifications versus print." Paintiff: "I have been a business owner, consultant and manager. I have the hands-on, educational and business experience to ensure our township is managed properly. I have managed a staff of 100 plus along with multi-million-dollar budgets. I recognize the need for better and more focused leadership in our township. I am known for my integrity, honesty and commitment. I will always do what I think is right. I will not let politics dictate my decisions. All my decisions will be based on what is best for our community. I will apply common-sense thinking and practical experience as trustee." Schrader: "Simply, I do not have a personal agenda, and I want to represent all the residents of Hinckley, not just those who agree with me. I know that managing our tax dollars and utilizing them in a way that serves the goals of the residents is the primary responsibility of the office. I am well trained in the broad cross-section of leadership skills needed to effectively lead and manage the business of the township. I have shepherded businesses through significant change, gaining consensus from a large and diverse group of stakeholders. I base my decisions on facts, not emotions." Swedyk: "As airport operations manager at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, I was responsible for providing the safest and most efficient operating environment for the users of the airport, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations. This included activities relevant to all aspects of airport operations regarding safety, security, maintenance and construction. My work involved coordinating with police, fire, maintenance departments, security, airline management, FAA, Secret Service, FBI, ODOT and all other entities as necessary. I have used these skills and experience to perform the duties of township trustee, which I have done diligently since taking office in 2022." What is the biggest challenge facing the city, and how would you address it? Marzullo Ascherl: "The biggest concern I hear from residents is related to zoning. They are concerned about development, light pollution and the types of businesses permitted within the township. Hinckley is currently working on creating the new comprehensive plan. This will be our zoning guide for the next 10 years. I encourage residents to participate in the meetings to ensure their concerns are being addressed. We are sending a survey to all homes in 2026. Your responses will help shape this plan and our future development." Paintiff: "One of the biggest problems we face is untethered growth. I grew up in Hinckley, I have seen the effect rapid growth has had on our community over the years. I would focus on modifying some of the lot size requirements we currently have. We need to collaborate with other communities facing the same problems to look for a viable solution. The effect of unmanaged growth is the burden placed on safety forces and services. We need to start thinking outside the box. As trustee, I will work along with the other trustees to find workable solutions." Schrader: "Unchecked growth and the very real possibility of a significant reduction in the township budget due to changes in property taxes. Regarding growth, I have a plan that, when added to the zoning code, will provide a high hurdle for any developer, residential or commercial. Regarding budget shortfall, currently it is impossible to have a concrete plan. The reported details of the changes vary wildly depending on the source, and the final version of the law could have little or significant impact on Ohio townships and school districts." Swedyk: "As with all government entities across the country, finances are always an issue. Finding ways to keep up with the rising cost of expenses without continually asking the residents for tax increases is of prime importance. Fiscal responsibility needs to be a mandate for all elected officials." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.