Four citizens of Kent ran for Kent city council-at-large positions, and Melissa Long, Mike DeLeone and Roger Sidoti were elected Tuesday. These council members will begin their four-year term on Jan. 1, 2014.

Serving the city of Kent is not new to any of these council members. Long most recently served on Kent’s Planning Commission for seven years creating planning for the downtown expansion and re-writing the building code. Her goal after being elected is to introduce legislation that will make Kent a better and safer place to live.

“I’m very happy,” she said. “The first thing I will do is listen, and listen some more, and find out exactly where the different council people are and where I can start to introduce some legislation I feel is necessary and would like to have all the council consider.”

Sidoti, who is a retired High School principal, has been re-elected to council-at-large and ran again because he said he believes there is still much work to be done. His focus is going to be establishing priorities for the budget and increasing emphasis on road, sidewalk and neighborhood revitalization.

“I’m humbled by the confidence our community puts in me,” he said, “and I just hope I live up to their high expectation and don’t let them down. I love the community and I think we all have to invest in our community in a variety of different ways, and this is a way I can invest. Representing the people, and I hope they will have confidence in me and my decision making.”

Mike DeLeone, machine operator, has also been re-elected to council-at-large after serving for 15 years. He has lived in Kent his entire life and has worked for the university and Franklin Township. He is looking to support further allocating the budget to road, sidewalk and neighborhood improvements, as well as hiring more personnel to help handle breaking of housing code and regulation issues.

“I enjoy being on city council its something I’ve done for about 16 years,” he said. “I like helping people and that’s what it is, I’m a policy maker. I make policies for the city of Kent. Its very interesting, the whole experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s very fulfilling and I like what I do.”

Contact Caitlyn Callahan at [email protected].