Issue 25 Passed: Summit County DD Renewal Levy

Voters approved , a 4.5-mill renewal levy requested by the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board.

Here are the final but unofficial vote tallies from the Summit County Board of Elections:

For the levy: 114,614

Against the levy: 48,945

An election watch party Tuesday evening at the Red Fox Party Center in Cuyahoga Falls attracted a large number of Summit DD employees, people who receive services and their families.

"Thanks to the many voters who approved this, 4,000 people with developmental disabilities will continue to receive services. Summit County is a place where there is no waiting for services," said Kevin McGee, director of public and community relations for Summit DD.

He gives a great deal of credit to the campaign's "community champions" for the levy's approval. The champions, he explained, are folks who receive services and worked hard on the levy campaign in their own communities.

"Issue 25 was successful because our community champions came out and told their personal stories through Patch ... That's what really made a difference. People connected with their stories," McGee said.

The Summit DD champions include Todd Eisinger, Emma Young and Jude Sanford, all of Fairlawn; Jessica Norwood of Stow; Doris Harris of Twinsburg and Timmy Shannon of Cuyahoga Falls.

Sarah Sanford was at the watch party with her son, Jude, who is nearly two. Sanford said she's incredibly grateful for Summit DD services and the changes they've made in Jude's life.

"(Jude) was lucky enough to start receiving early intervention services when he was eight months old. Two days a week he goes to a full structured day program where he receives physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and sees his vision therapist -- and he more than loves it," Sanford said.

The renewal levy accounts for 72 percent of Summit DD's operating funding, according to www.voteforsummitdd.org.

The levy will cost homeowners about $11.50 per month for the owner of a $100,000 home.