Incumbent Reggie Hare stresses deer control, pedestrian safety and street repairs in Ward 3 re-election interview

Reggie Hare, the incumbent Ward 3 council member and candidate for re-election in Medina, said controlling the city’s growing deer population, improving pedestrian safety downtown and fixing streets and sidewalks would be top priorities if she wins another term.

Hare told a local host she and fellow council members hear repeated complaints about deer from residents in her ward. "The deer, they're not afraid. They don't move... they're so used to being here that they're not afraid of anything," she said, describing damage to yards and frequent vehicle strikes the city has recorded. Hare said the city is pursuing several approaches: public education about not feeding deer, working with state agencies, permitting hunting on larger approved parcels (which she called "Plan B") and targeted sharpshooting on secured parcels overseen by the police department ("Plan C"). She emphasized the city does not intend to eliminate the herd but to reduce it to a more manageable level.

Hare described the city’s existing ordinance prohibiting feeding deer and urged residents to follow it and to plant species deer tend to avoid. She said the service director provides updates on deer the city removes from roadways and voiced concern about both animal welfare and public safety: "I don't wanna see that. I don't think anybody wants to see that."

On pedestrian safety, Hare said downtown growth, including events and a new hotel, has increased all-day traffic and raised risks for people crossing the Square. She said the city has installed flashing pedestrian-activated lights and discussed curb bump-outs on the Square to shorten crossing distances, but added that personal vigilance remains important: "We need to get our eyes off our cell phones. We need to look around us and pay attention." She said some safety improvements require coordination with state transportation officials, noting that certain routes are state-controlled.

As chair of the council’s Streets and Sidewalks committee, Hare described a hands-on approach to maintenance: she asks residents to report hazardous sidewalks and said she documents problems and forwards them to the service director. When crews cannot immediately make permanent repairs, she said the city installs temporary asphalt ramps so pedestrians, cyclists and people using wheelchairs can pass safely until full repairs occur.

Hare also addressed aging structures and housing availability in Medina, saying the city is largely built out and lacks affordable housing options. "I don't have an answer for that, to be honest with you," she said, adding that the problem is widespread and will require ideas from others and cooperation with outside partners.

Hare described herself as fiscally conservative and said she does not want to impose new expenses on taxpayers while addressing deer and infrastructure challenges. She closed the interview by asking for voters' support in November and offering contact information for constituents: her city council email and a personal cell number she provided during the interview (330-722-7471).

The remarks occurred during a roughly 20-minute candidate interview; Hare said she has served about five years on the council and continues to hold ward meetings to gather constituent concerns, naming April and September sessions where residents raised the deer issue as the top concern.