Aker and May are seeking District 4 seat

Portland City Council District 4 will have someone new representing it in 2024.

A former council member and a former board of zoning appeals member are hoping to earn the spot.

Democrat Judy Aker and Republican Ron May are vying for the Portland City Council District 4 seat in the Nov. 7 municipal election.

They are seeking to replace incumbent Republican Don Gillespie, who chose not to run for re-election.

Aker is a former four-term council member who decided not to seek a fifth term in 2019. She is the office manager at Mark Aker Plumbing and is a 1978 graduate of Ohio State University.

May served 17 years on Portland Board of Zoning Appeals. He is a U.S. Army veteran and retired Jay County probation officer who earned a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University.

The candidates were asked to respond to a questionnaire from The Commercial Review. Their answers follow.

Two of the issues most discussed at Portland City Council meetings over the past couple of years have been the golf cart and trash collection ordinances. If elected, how would you handle both of those issues?

Aker: The city-wide clean-up needs to be reinstated to at least a minimum of twice a year if not more. Residents do not always have the means to take large items to the street department. Since the golf cart ordinance has been changed, I would leave it like it is. I would encourage our police department to make sure the ordinance is enforced.

May: The issue I have with golf carts is the safety of the children who ride on them. I have seen infants on the laps of parents who are driving and children on the back seat without any safety restraints. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. Trash pick-up for the residents of Portland should be provided free of charge. It should be included in our property taxes. We also need to bring back trash away pick-up week twice a year. Many residents do not have the ability to take large items to the city barn.

Downtown revitalization — improving buildings, attracting new business — is frequently identified as a key to economic growth. What would you do to help improve Portland’s downtown area?

Aker: Business and building owners need to be made aware of grants and monies available to expand and build their businesses.

May: Several of the buildings that are empty in downtown Portland do not have for sale signs in them. We need to find out who owns the buildings and see what their intentions are with the buildings. I believe it is the obligation of the city to do everything in its power to improve downtown Portland, including financial help.

Other than those discussed above, what is the most important issue facing Portland and how would you handle it?

Aker: We need to update the current ordinances and delete the outdated ones and  involve the board of works, city council and the city attorney in this process. Also educate the downtown business owners and future downtown business owners on available funding to assist them such as revolving loans and grants.

May: I would like to see a new grocery store move into Portland. Walmart is confusing to navigate for many people, especially the elderly. A small, hometown store would be a great benefit to Portland. I believe the high cost of the city water bill needs to be addressed. Many people living in Portland are on a fixed income and I don’t believe our city leaders took that into account when they raised the water bill by at least 20%. Portland leaders should consider the people living on fixed incomes before increasing billing on the residents of Portland.

What makes you the best candidate for city council?

Aker: My 16 years of experience as a city council member.

May: I grew up in Portland and I have called it my home my entire life. I would like to give back to the community. I am a retired probation officer and businessman, not a politician, but we need new faces in our local government with fresh ideas. I have no hidden agenda and I will dedicate myself to the residents of Portland. Together, let’s make Portland great again.