September 30, 2025 

Friends, 

These are incredibly turbulent times. There are no easy solutions and none of us have all the answers.

There will always be opposing views. Some so awful your blood will boil and you will spend a life time screaming at the top of your lungs opposing it. That’s good! It’s how we know we live in a democracy. But let me be clear, violence is never the answer. 

Now, more than ever, we must fight the urge to add noise on top of chaos. I challenge all of us, including myself, to change the narrative. We have real fights with real life consequences happing right now.

While Washington figures out how to keep the government open and we wait to see new maps in Ohio, we have very important work to do in Summit County. Whether you live in Twinsburg, Barberton, or anywhere in between, we have ways you can help out over the next four weeks.

Make real impactful change in your own back yard. Signup to help in one of the many school board races.

Want a local government and city council that share your ideals? We have great candidates that need your energy getting out their message.

Let’s stop doom scrolling and use our time to make our community the best it can be. We’re not asking for a big commitment. Just a few hours of your time and we can change the narrative. So please reach out and commit to a Saturday or an evening after work.

Together we move Summit County forward.

Mark Derrig,

Summit County Democratic Party Chair 

August 29, 2025

Friends,

As we get ready to celebrate Labor Day, I hope you safely enjoy time with family, picnics, parades and, of course, the start of football season. 

As a proud union member of CWA Local 4302 for nearly 29 years, I’ve always tried to make this weekend about honoring my sisters and brothers who continue the fight to keep labor strong and relevant. As my own career nears its end, I find myself thinking more and more about the next generation of workers.

Labor unions face serious challenges today. From political attacks to pressure from management, and even from misinformation within our own ranks. Well-funded union busting efforts are just as damaging to our movement as they are to our democracy.

That’s why, as Democrats, we must continue electing leaders who will fight for unions and working people. Few have done more for labor than Sherrod Brown, who has stood shoulder to shoulder with us throughout his career. The same is true of our Congresswoman, Emilia Sykes, who has proven her commitment both on the picket lines and in the halls of government. And we must keep Ohio free from anti-union “right to work” laws.

So, let’s recommit ourselves to supporting labor by voting for pro-worker candidates or choosing union-made products whenever we can.

Together, with our brothers and sisters in labor, we will continue to move Summit County forward.

Mark Derrig, 

Summit County Democratic Party Chair 

July 31, 2025

Friends,

What an amazing weekend we had getting into good trouble!

We rallied and marched in Stow.

We gathered in a union hall to write post cards.

We registered voters at Akron's African American Cultural Festival.

At every event, people of all ages and backgrounds came together with a shared purpose: community.

The attacks on our shared values have stirred outrage and frustration, and rightfully so. The passion is real and the anger is just. With each event, this movement grows by bringing in more and more first time activists, and for that we are grateful! 

As we enter into the finals months of Summer, candidates campaigns and your Summit County Democratic Party are gearing up and hitting the streets. Now is the time to turn your homemade signs in for a clipboard and a walking list. We will also need folks to put up yard signs, greet voters, and make phone calls. 

Click HERE to see how you can get engaged! 

Let's use the energy from the Good Trouble Lives On Weekend of Action to keep moving Summit County forward.

Mark Derrig,

Summit County Democratic Party Chair  

June 30, 2025 

Friends, 

There's nothing better than Summer! We have started to gather for parades and ceremonies to honor our veterans, spent time with moms and dads at family brunch and get-togethers, graduations and weddings, and had Pride and Juneteenth festivities. And soon we'll be celebrating our independence with more parades, cook outs, and my favorite, fireworks! 

As Summer heats up, so has the outrage against MAGA extremists in D.C. and at our Statehouse. More and more people are turning out to protest the dismantling of our democracy, schools, and the rule of law. These rallies are important and a great way to express ones feelings, but we encourage you take it one step further and turn that frustration into action.

This November, there are critical races all across Summit County from Barberton to Twinsburg and everywhere in between. We have an opportunity to use our energy effectively by knocking on doors, dropping literature, making phone calls, writing postcards, and making sure we turn out and vote.

It's time to turn anger in action! Call or email us to find out how to find out how you can help a local campaign in your community. There are opportunities for everyone to keep Summit County moving forward. 

Mark Derrig, 

Summit County Democratic Party Chair 

May 28, 2025

Friends,

Thank you all for your support of this year’s 25th Annual FDR Awards Dinner. It truly is a privilege to honor some amazing Democrats right here in Summit County! 

Some have asked why we are having the dinner in Spring. Each year we use these much needed funds to help support our candidates and win races. Planning our sample ballot program requires targeting and strategizing. Knowing what we can afford is a major part of those decisions. There are so many important races all across the county this year!  These early donations are critical and will help our candidates and Party succeed. 

Our focus will always be electing strong Democrats throughout Summit County. Your reoccurring gift of $20 a month will be helping us expand our voter outreach, run the office, and help bolster some amazing candidates. It will also get you a free ticket to our annual FDR Awards Dinner next year!

I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at our dinner. It will be a great night of celebration for all those well deserving individuals receiving awards. For those that can’t make the event, please consider becoming a Sustaining Member at any amount. With your support we will continue to move Summit County forward.  

Mark Derrig,

Summit County Democratic Party Chair

April 29, 2025

Friends, 

Spring has sprung!

As we watch our grass grow and trees bloom you may also notice yard signs popping up too.

On, or before May 6th, make sure you get out and VOTE. All of us will have the opportunity to show our support for Issues 2 and 18.

Residents of Akron Ward’s 1 and 8 and Tallmadge have an important choice to make on who will represent them on City Council. Don’t sit these out, VOTE!

This past month has also seen a groundswell of protests. The anger and frustration over the dysfunction of the Republican Party has been incredible and predictable. Nationwide, people have filled the streets demanding a return to our norms.

Don’t lose that energy!

Your Summit County Dems are putting together opportunities to get out and talk to voters. Stay tuned!

If you’re interested in helping spread the word and getting more involved please contact Brandon. We would love to have your help as we keep moving Summit County forward.

Mark Derrig,

Summit County Democratic Party Chair 

March 27, 2025 

Friends, I read recently that we are surrounded by more speech than at any other time in our history as humans. 

Every medium seems to be more outrage-driven than ever, generating clicks, shares, and, well, more outrage.

This is not one-sided.

• There are posts of protests and rallies filled with outrage.
• Folks are fired up because Elon and crew are gutting public education – of course, they are! 
• And depending on where you get your news, it’s either a fight to save the soul of our democracy or cancel culture trying to stop progress. 

Either way, there is monetized outrage filling everyone’s inboxes, feeds, and televisions with no end in sight.

Your Summit County Democratic Party is focused on our candidates. 

Instead of fueling the fires of outrage, we want to highlight the positive work being done in our cities and county government.

We want you to see the success of some amazing specialty programs in our courts. 

We want you to know about a Sheriff using new innovations during people’s worst days for better outcomes. 

We are excited to share stories so you can share them with your neighbors, families and friends.

We are not ignoring the severity of our current reality – we are angry too! 

Where and how we focus our energy over the coming months will determine the outcome of more than 100 races right here in Summit County.

I’m looking forward to another campaign season with all of you, the best Democrats anywhere! 

Together, we will continue to move Summit County forward.

Mark Derrig, 

Summit County Democratic Party Chair