By Logan Andrew, Editor-in-Chief, FreeWire
Bucyrus voters head to the polls Tuesday, May 6, to cast ballots in the 2025 Primary/Special Election. On the line: key city council races, a street levy renewal, and a statewide infrastructure amendment. We surveyed nearly 200 local residents to find out how they feel heading into the vote — and the numbers paint a clear picture of both support and discontent.
Issue 3: The Street Levy Renewal
This is a proposed renewal of the city’s 0.5% income tax to fund street improvements and infrastructure upkeep.
Despite intense criticism of city leadership, support for continuing the levy is strong:
- 47% of respondents said they are very favorable
- 26% said somewhat favorable
- 13% reported being somewhat unfavorable
- 14% said very unfavorable
Nearly three-quarters of voters support keeping the tax in place — signaling that while many are unhappy with city government, they still see the value in fixing the streets.
Council At-Large Race: Slater Leads, Mee Holds Second
When asked which candidates they support for at-large city council seats, voters responded as follows (vote for up to three):
- Clarissa Slater – 96 votes (49%)
- James Mee – 67 votes (34%)
- Ray Thitoff – 49 votes (25%)
- Robert Taylor – 40 votes (20%)
Slater leads the pack by a wide margin, with Mee in a strong second. Thitoff and Taylor remain close in the race for the third seat.
Approval Ratings: A Vote of No Confidence
The public’s assessment of local leadership is overwhelmingly negative.
Bucyrus City Council (as a whole)
- 83% unfavorable
- Only 1.5% rated it “very favorable”
Mayor Bruce Truka
- 56.85% unfavorable
- 7.6% very favorable
City Administration (Mayor, Auditor, Law Director, etc.)
- 55.6% unfavorable
- 6.6% very favorable
Council President Kurt Fankhauser
- 83.76% very unfavorable
- Only 3.5% very favorable
Of all the figures measured, Fankhauser received the harshest disapproval, with nearly every respondent expressing negative views.
Voter Turnout: Will Bucyrus Show Up?
Survey results suggest turnout could be high for a May election.
- 75.6% of respondents said they are very likely to vote
- 8.6% said somewhat likely
- Only 7.6% were not likely, with 8.1% not sure
Given the frustration expressed in approval ratings, voter enthusiasm seems driven by a desire to push for change.
State Issue 1: Infrastructure Bond Authority
Also appearing on Tuesday’s ballot is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Ohio to issue up to $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds over 10 years for infrastructure projects. These include roads, bridges, water treatment systems, and other public improvements. The measure is expected to have bipartisan support statewide.
How the Poll Was Conducted:
To ensure the integrity of the results, the survey was restricted by both device and IP address. We tested it multiple times ourselves, and as far as we can tell, nobody voted more than once — and if they did, it would’ve taken considerable effort. FreeWire did not participate in the voting, nor did we promote the poll ahead of time. Our goal was simple: to capture the most honest and unfiltered snapshot of how Bucyrians feel ahead of the May 5th primary. The results remained remarkably consistent from day one, and as far as we can tell, everything was on the up and up. We did everything we could to make this poll as real and representative as possible.
While no poll is perfect, this one paints a vivid picture of where public sentiment currently lies — especially toward those in power. It also shows that no amount of mailers, billboards, or attacks can substitute for public trust.
Election Day Details
Election Date: Tuesday, May 6
Poll Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Need info? Visit crawfordcountyohioboe.gov for polling locations, sample ballots, and voter ID guidelines.
Whether you're motivated by the levy, a candidate, or frustration with how things have been going — this is your chance to weigh in. FreeWire will have full coverage on Election Day and post results as they come in.
