T he Stow Municipal Court has traveled a bumpy path the past year.

T he Stow Municipal Court has traveled a bumpy path the past year. The court moved its operations from Cuyahoga Falls. No surprise the change ruffled political feathers.

T he only ward-level Republican primary in Akron is in Ward 1, where Charles Murphy and Mark La Voie are vying for the chance to run against the Democratic nominee in November.

I n Akron’s Ward 6, the Otterman name has carried political clout since 1969, when Robert, then a high school counselor, first ran for office. (Son John followed, first to the City Council and, later, to the Ohio House.) Robert Otterman served 30 years on the council, a record, before moving to the legislature; facing term limits, he resigned his House seat in early 2008. After brief service in the Summit County executive’s office, where he was a liaison to senior citizens, Otterman is back on the ballot in Ward 6.

T he 45th Ohio House District sweeps across South Akron, covers all of Barberton and parts of Coventry and Springfield townships. It leans heavily Democratic. Thus, the safe bet is, John Otterman of Akron will win a full, two-year term representing the district at the Statehouse.

I n a stunning turn this summer, payday lenders lost their legislative battle to prevent passage of an Ohio law that caps the interest rate they are permitted to charge on small loans. The lenders responded with a strategy: If you fail in the Statehouse, take the fight to the streets.

I n this election year, the focus has returned to the economy. Ohio voters will evaluate many candidates and issues, making decisions with an eye on the turmoil on Wall Street and the belt-tightening in their own lives. In casting their ballot, they should not hesitate on state Issue 2, to continue the essential and highly successful Clean Ohio program.

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8 reasons to vote for Issue 8

J oseph Russo likes to quote Thomas Moyer as he pursues a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court. The Cuyahoga County common pleas judge recalls the chief justice often expressing concern about ”the weight of more aggressive, partisan and expensive elections” eroding public confidence in the courts, the flow of political money ”creating the perception of a conflict of interest in many minds.”