by Mark R. Potter
Regional Editor
Cuyahoga Falls -- Two local Republicans will face off in the March 4 primary for a Summit County Council seat.
District 3 incumbent Louise Heydorn of Silver Lake will face Ohio House Rep. John Widowfield (42nd District). The district represents Stow, Silver Lake and part of Cuyahoga Falls.
"District 3 is where I live," Widowfield said when asked why he was going after the seat, adding there are no At-Large seats up for re-election this year. "This is the only County Council seat that I can run for."
Heydorn said she was "shocked" when she heard Widowfield was running against her and said she views him as a "formidable opponent."
However, Heydorn said she is confident her experience on Council gives her an advantage in the election.
"You have to build a consensus on Council and I'm very good at working with my colleagues. That's not something that happened overnight," Heydorn said. "I am actively representing [my constituents] and trying to improve their quality of life."
In November, Widowfield lost in his bid to unseat incumbent Democrat Lisa Zeno Carano as the Clerk for the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court by getting around 46 percent to Zeno Carano's 54 percent of the vote. He said he will not seek a final two-year term for his District 42 seat because he said he wants to spend more time with his family.
"I think eight years is enough," Widowfield said. "I think it's time for me to step aside."
Widowfield was eligible for one more two-year term because he was appointed to the post in 2001. He said spending time in Columbus away from his family has been "a grind" and he would like to hold elected office locally.
"My wife and I have talked and she'd like me home," Widowfield said. "This opportunity would allow me to spend time with my family and still be able to serve the public in a different capacity."
E-mail: mpotter@recordpub.com
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