2016 Summit County, Ohio Executive election

Last updated

2016 Summit County, Ohio Executive election
  2012 November 8, 2016 2020  
  3x4.svg 3x4.svg
Nominee Ilene Shapiro Bill Roemer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote138,46696,455
Percentage58.94%41.06%

County Executive before election

Ilene Shapiro
Democratic

Elected County Executive

Ilene Shapiro
Democratic

The 2016 Summit County, Ohio Executive election took place on November 8, 2016. Incumbent Democratic County Executive Russ Pry ran for re-election to a third term. He won the Democratic primary unopposed, but announced that he would withdraw from the race after he was diagnosed with colon cancer, and died shortly thereafter. [1] County Council President Ilene Shapiro became County Executive and was selected as the Democratic Party's nominee in the general election. [2]

Contents

In the general election, Shapiro faced Bill Roemer, the Republican nominee and a former County Councilman. Shapiro significantly outraised and outspent Roemer, [3] and won the endorsement of the Akron Beacon Journal . [4] She ultimately defeated Roemer in a landslide, receiving 59 percent of the vote to Roemer's 41 percent. [5]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Russ Pry (inc.) 47,808 100.00%
Total votes47,808 100.00%

Replacement nominee

Pry announced that he would end his campaign for re-election on July 30, 2016, and died the next day. [1] The Summit County Democratic Party convened to select a replacement nominee. Shapiro, the President of the County Council and the interim County Executive following Pry's death, announced that she would seek the nomination, and was unanimously selected as the replacement nominee. [2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bill Roemer 43,760 100.00%
Total votes43,760 100.00%

General election

Results

2016 Summit County Executive election [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ilene Shapiro (inc.) 138,466 58.94%
Republican Bill Roemer96,45541.06%
Total votes234,921 100.00%
Democratic hold

References

  1. 1 2 Garrett, Amanda (August 1, 2016). "Leader 'at the time right' remembered: Democratic Summit County executive, 58, dies after health setbacks following cancer surgery". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Armon, Rick (August 12, 2016). "County Dems name Shapiro as executive". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A4. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  3. Armon, Rick (October 29, 2016). "Shapiro outspends Roemer". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. B4. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  4. "For Summit County executive: We recommend the election of Ilene Shapiro". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. October 14, 2016. p. A7. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  5. Rudell, Tim (November 9, 2016). "Ilene Shapiro Elected to Full Term as Summit County Executive". WOSU-TV . Columbus, Ohio . Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  6. Miller, Marilyn (January 20, 2016). "County Council incumbents face challengers in party, out". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. B1, B3. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "03/15/16 PRIMARY ELECTION - Amended Official Count". Summit County Board of Elections. April 18, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  8. Warsmith, Stephanie; Miller, Marilyn (December 17, 2015). "Lee to defend seat on council despite charges". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1, A4. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  9. "11/08/16 General Election - Amended Official Count". Summit County Board of Elections. January 24, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2025.