Vote count underway in Toledo City Council at-large race for six open seats

TOLEDO, Ohio — Eleven candidates are competing for six at-large seats on Toledo City Council.

Incumbents George Sarantou, Nick Komives, Brittany Jones, Cerssandra McPherson, and Mac Driscoll are seeking reelection. Other candidates include Rob Pasker, Tom Names, Erin Kramer, Blair Johnson, Ed Beczynski and Tom Waniewski.

Former Council President Carrie Hartman withdrew after accepting a job with the University of Toledo that was later rescinded.

Winners serve four-year terms. Results remain unofficial until certified by the Lucas County Board of Elections.

Across interviews with WTOL 11, candidates focused on many of the same themes: neighborhood investment, housing, safety, transparency, and restoring public trust.

• Brittany Jones said she wants to expand efforts around food access, childcare and housing affordability for working families.
• George Sarantou, who chairs council’s finance committee, cited crime, blight and fiscal responsibility as top concerns, pointing to improvements in the city’s bond rating and budget management.
• Mac Driscoll and Nick Komives emphasized sustainability and budget efficiency, with Komives noting his work on environmental legislation and cost-saving initiatives.
• Cerssandra McPherson said she’s most proud of expanding youth programming with federal recovery funds and wants to continue addressing gun violence through community partnerships.
• Tom Waniewski, a former council member, called for a “back-to-basics” approach to government with renewed focus on police, fire and infrastructure.
• Ed Beczynski, a business owner, said he wants to strengthen neighborhoods, improve safety and attract new revenue to Toledo.
• Erin Kramer, a Moms Demand Action organizer and college administrator, said she’ll focus on gun safety, population growth and recruiting young professionals to the city.
• Tom Names, an engineer, said he wants to ensure core services such as roads are funded through the regular budget rather than levies.
• Rob Pasker highlighted housing access, small-business support and youth investment, proposing a public dashboard to track neighborhood spending.
• Blair Johnson, a contractor, said his goal is community stabilization — addressing blight, boosting homeownership and improving workforce training.