UPDATED at 1:15 AM:

 

In the Akron city council-at-large race, incumbent Michael Williams, school board member Linda Omobien and former councilman Jeff Fusco held onto their leads to grab three open seats.  Williams is a returning councilman-at-large. Fusco is thankful for all the support he garnered from voters. "I'm looking forward to going down to City Hall and working with council, the administration and the Mayor in terms of moving the city forward."

 

He believes his previous experience as a former council member and former deputy service member will help him move Akron forward and tackle important issues: the city's budget, creating jobs and look at ways to improve how Akron does business.

Williams, a 22 year council member, says he's not only familiar with the current council members.  He says his two new fellow at large council members aren't strangers to him, either..."I know Linda Omobien, and have worked with her in the past on the school board there.  Worked with Jeff Fusco, served with him on council previously."

 

 

In Akron ward council races, in Ward 8, Democrat Sandra Kurt finished ahead of Republican Elizabeth Berry Smith.

 

Kurt said she is looking to bring some fresh ideas to Council. "I think I'm bringing a neat perspective to Council as an engineer, you know that their brains work differently than everyone else's." Kurt explained what she was referring to. "I tear things down and analyze them and I think Council can use that kind of philosophy."

  

 

In contested races with incumbents, Ward 1 council member Jim Hurley, Ward 2 council member Bruce Kilby and Ward 7 council member Tina Merlitti hang onto their seats.

Jim Hurley says there's a lot of work to do, "the budget...we're about the face the issues with the sewers."

Bruce Kilby is appreciative voters put their faith in him again. "I will continue to do what I think is best for the ward and continue to stand up for the people." But one thing bothers him. He calls it "a shame" the Summit County Democratic Party didn't endorse him because he was endorsed by Ward 2 voters.

 

Alexander says he was a little surprised by his finish with the second highest number of votes. Work begins tomorrow, he says, and there are a few issues he would like to tackle. "The monies and the decline of students in our school system. We hope that we can do something to make our school system more attractive" says Alexander.

 

LISTEN to Bruce Alexander

 

Incumbent Jason Haas was re-elected to the Board and was happy to be given another opportunity to serve.

 

"I'm pleased and happy to be re-elected to the school board and I'm looking forward to working with some of the newly elected members and work towards making our district better."

 

LISTEN to Haas speak about his re-election to the Board

 

 

Issue 5, which would apply more stringent standards to recall Akron public officials, was overwhelmingly passed by voters. The issue was prompted by the unsuccessful June recall of Mayor Don Plusquellic.

 

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Here are returns for some Akron races:

 

                                            VOTES PERCENT

           PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 475).  .  .  .  .       464   97.68
           REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL .  .  .  .  .   358,047
           BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL.  .  .  .  .  .  .   138,035
           VOTER TURNOUT - TOTAL  .  .  .  .  .  .             38.55

          City Of Akron Council-at-Large
          (Vote For Not More Than )  3
              (WITH 150 OF 153 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.04%)
           MICHAEL D. WILLIAMS (DEM) .  .  .  .  .    19,526   24.37
           LINDA OMOBIEN (DEM) .  .  .  .  .  .  .    18,557   23.16
           JEFF FUSCO (DEM) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    18,228   22.75
           DAVID M. SUTTER (REP)  .  .  .  .  .  .     8,961   11.18
           MICHELLE DIMEFF (REP)  .  .  .  .  .  .     7,491    9.35
           DAVID J. KIRSCHBAUM (REP) .  .  .  .  .     7,181    8.96
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       179     .22

          City Of Akron Ward 1 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 17 OF 17 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           JIM HURLEY (DEM) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,653   68.86
           CHARLY MURPHY (REP) .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,200   31.14

          City Of Akron Ward 2 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 12 OF 12 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           BRUCE KILBY (DEM).  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,351   65.71
           JOSH SINES (REP) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       705   34.29

          City Of Akron Ward 3 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 14 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           MARCO S. SOMMERVILLE (DEM).  .  .  .  .     1,961  100.00

          City Of Akron Ward 4 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 18 OF 18 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           RUSSEL C. NEAL, JR. (DEM) .  .  .  .  .     3,258  100.00

          City Of Akron Ward 5 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 11 OF 12 PRECINCTS COUNTED 91.67%)
           KEN JONES (DEM)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,324  100.00

          City Of Akron Ward 6 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 16 OF 17 PRECINCTS COUNTED 94.12%)
           ROBERT J. OTTERMAN (DEM)  .  .  .  .  .     3,126  100.00

          City Of Akron Ward 7 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 16 OF 16 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           TINA MERLITTI (DEM) .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,570   71.85
           DUANE L. SCHRAMM, SR. (REP)  .  .  .  .     1,007   28.15

          City Of Akron Ward 8 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 20 OF 21 PRECINCTS COUNTED 95.24%)
           SANDRA KURT (DEM).  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,629   57.81
           ELIZABETH BERRY SMITH (REP)  .  .  .  .     2,649   42.19

          City Of Akron Ward 9 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 13 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           MIKE FREEMAN (DEM)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,421  100.00

          City Of Akron Ward 10 Council
          (Vote For Not More Than )  1
              (WITH 13 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           KELLI CRAWFORD (DEM).  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,900  100.00

          Akron City School Board Of Education
          (Vote For Not More Than )  4
              (WITH 148 OF 151 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.01%)
           LISA MANSFIELD.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    15,477   20.14
           BRUCE D. ALEXANDER  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    12,361   16.08
           JASON HAAS .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    11,122   14.47
           GINGER BAYLOR .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     9,896   12.88
           DIANNA SMITH  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     9,781   12.73
           RITA M. HOSCH .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     7,374    9.59
           VIRGIL ANTHONY ORTIZ.  .  .  .  .  .  .     5,431    7.07
           MEXIE J. WILSON  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     5,412    7.04