County

Stark County Commissioner

Full term commencing 1/1/2027

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A county commissioner is one of three officials who run county government, set its budget and approve its contracts.

Candidates Compare by issue

Tony M. Townsend

Democratic

Mental health therapist; Massillon City Council member · Massillon

The gist

Supports requiring data centers to show measurable local benefit.
Pledges transparency on data center tax incentives and costs.
Supports infrastructure investment to expand affordable housing.
Supports redeveloping vacant or underused properties for housing.

More about Tony

View sources (1)

Supports requiring data centers to show measurable local benefit.
Stark County Commissioner — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“data centers must demonstrate a clear and measurable benefit to Stark County residents”
Pledges transparency on data center tax incentives and costs.
Stark County Commissioner — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“full transparency regarding tax incentives and long-term costs”
Supports infrastructure investment to expand affordable housing.
Stark County Commissioner — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“strategically investing in roads, water, sewer, and other infrastructure that makes housing development more feasible and cost-effective”
Supports redeveloping vacant or underused properties for housing.
Stark County Commissioner — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“encourage redevelopment of vacant or underused properties”

Alan Harold

RepublicanIncumbent

Stark County Commissioner · Canton

The gist

Supports siting data centers in existing industrial areas.
Supports water and sewer investment to promote housing growth.
Opposes data centers passing costs to other ratepayers.
Supports housing development on sites in existing neighborhoods.

More about Alan

View sources (1)

Supports siting data centers in existing industrial areas.
Stark County Commissioner — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Efforts should be made to site these in existing industrial areas and to insist these users are not passing on their costs”
Supports water and sewer investment to promote housing growth.
Stark County Commissioner — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“smartly investing in new infrastructure - especially water and sewer - to promote appropriate growth across the county”
Opposes data centers passing costs to other ratepayers.
Stark County Commissioner — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“insist these users are not passing on their costs to other tax and rate payers”
Supports housing development on sites in existing neighborhoods.
Stark County Commissioner — VOTE411 Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“This includes using sites in existing neighborhoods”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 3 issues covered in this race.