Frontlines Ohio candidate survey results for key Mansfield city races (VIDEO)

MANSFIELD — As November 5th’s local elections draw near, Christian’s are reminded of their sacred responsibility to vote their Biblical values.

Candidates running for Mansfield Mayor and Mansfield City Council were each asked a list of questions by Frontlines Ohio regarding a variety of topics they could encounter if elected to office.

Candidates were twice sent the survey via email-the last time on September 22nd, allowing them the opportunity to complete the survey electronically. The survey was also sent via certified mail with a self-addressed envelope to return their responses. Some candidates failed to respond before the deadline.

For the mayoral race, two-term incumbent Mayor Tim Theaker (R) of 685 WoodHill Road will be running against Councilman-at-Large Don Bryant (D). Theaker did respond.

In the survey, Theaker stated he opposes the expansion of gambling as a revenue source. He also opposes reducing criminal penalties for drug use and drug possession and opposes the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.

In regards to the Second Amendment, Theaker does not support additional laws restricting gun ownership with city limits.

In the survey, Theaker said he opposes banning conversion therapy and opposes implementing sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) laws within city limits.

Theaker supports the idea that the government should accommodate religious expression on public property and would oppose legislation designating Mansfield as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants.

Cliff Mears (R) of 641 Bigelow Road, will be running against Aurelio Diaz (D) for City Council President. The Councilman-at-Large is in the middle of his second term while Diaz has never been elected to office.

Mears opposes the expansion of gambling as a revenue source, and supports defunding taxpayer monies from Planned Parenthood. Mears also opposes reducing criminal penalties for drug use and drug possession and also opposes the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.

In regards to the Second Amendment, Mears does not support additional laws restricting gun ownership with city limits.

He also supports the idea that the government should accommodate religious expression on public property and would oppose legislation designating Mansfield as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants.

In response to the Frontlines Ohio election survey, Candidate Jason Crundwell, who is running for Second Ward stated he would not participate in the survey and that he follows the practice of “separation of church and state.”

First Ward Councilman David Falquette (R) of 567 Birchlawn Boulevard will be running against Phil Scott (D) for the Councilman-at-Large seat vacated by Don Bryant. Falquette is in the middle of his first term after being elected in 2017.

Falquette said he opposes the expansion of gambling as a revenue source and supports defunding taxpayer monies from Planned Parenthood. He also opposes reducing criminal penalties for drug use and drug possession and opposes the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.

In regards to the Second Amendment, Falquette said he does not support additional laws restricting gun ownership with city limits.

Falquette said he supports the idea that the government should accommodate religious expression on public property and would oppose legislation designating Mansfield as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants.

Gerald Strouth (R) of 516 Bryden Road is running for the Fourth Ward as a write-in candidate. He is employed as an Emergency Medical Technician at Mansfield Ambulance Service. This is his first time as candidate for elected office.

Strouth’s name will not appear on the ballot, meaning a voter will have to write Strouth’s name in to cast a vote for him. He will be running against candidate Brenda Collins-Vaughn and Alomar Davenport (D).

In the survey, Strouth stated that he opposes the expansion of gambling as a revenue source and supports defunding taxpayer monies from Planned Parenthood. He also opposes reducing criminal penalties for drug use and drug possession and opposes the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.

In regards to the Second Amendment, Strouth does not support additional laws restricting gun ownership with city limits.

In the survey, Strouth supports banning conversion therapy but opposes implementing sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) laws within city limits.

Strouth supports the idea that the government should accommodate religious expression on public property and would oppose legislation designating Mansfield as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants.

All the other City of Mansfield candidates running for elected office failed to submit their survey results in time before the posting of this article.

Officials are hoping for a good voter turnout; in the 2015 elections, voter turnout in Richland County was 46%. Voters can find their polling location or vote by absentee ballot. For a list of the candidates and issues click here.

View the video below produced by the Family Research Council. Christians need to vote Biblical values; one Mansfield City Council race in 2015 was decided by as little as 117 votes.