Coyne, Shields bring decades of service to Medina mayoral race

Who will become Medina’s next mayor? City voters will answer that question on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Two men with longtime municipal experience are poised to succeed Dennis Hanwell, Medina’s police-chief-turned-mayor, who will retire from public service when his fourth consecutive term ends Dec. 31.

Medina Weekly staffers, in collaboration with residents and local business leaders, have attempted to craft a handful of meaningful questions for Medina’s mayoral candidates to answer.

Their responses – preceded by some background – are presented in alphabetical order:

John Coyne, 57, has served on Medina City Council since 1998, including 14 years as council at-large and 13 years as council president. He currently chairs council’s Finance and Strategic Plan Advisory committees, serves on the Economic Development and Business Development committees, and is a board member of the Medina/Montville Joint Economic Development District.

A lifelong Medina County resident, Coyne was raised on a working farm and is the grandson of John Coyne, Brooklyn, Ohio's mayor from 1948-2000. He holds degrees in finance, law and business administration, and has worked as a real estate attorney at Roetzel & Andress for more than 30 years. He is also a small business owner managing apartments, retail and industrial properties.

Coyne’s athletic background includes state and national honors in pole vault, setting long-standing records and earning All-American honors at the University of Tennessee. He has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including Buckeye High School, Medina County Sports and the Ohio Association of Track and Cross-Country Coaches.

In addition to government service, Coyne has served on the Buckeye Education Foundation board, chaired the Buckeye School District Hall of Fame selection committee, and volunteered as a pole vault coach for Buckeye High School and Medina High School track programs.

Coyne and his wife, Jennifer, have been married 32 years. They have three children: Jacqueline, Jessica and John IV.

Jim Shields, 59, has represented Ward 4 on Medina City Council since 2001. A lifelong Medina resident, Shields was born at Medina Hospital, attended Medina City Schools from kindergarten through high school — where he was senior class president — and proudly calls himself a lifelong Medina Bee.

Shields is an honors graduate of Miami University and the University of Akron School of Law. His professional career includes eight years as vice president and trust officer at Old Phoenix Bank and more than two decades as director of human resources and legal counsel for Medina City Schools. He said his work reflects a long-standing commitment to both financial stewardship and educational excellence in the community where he was raised.

Beyond his elected role, Shields has served as president of the Medina County Bar Association, Medina County Police Activities League and Medina Jaycees, as well as board chair of Medina County United Way. He has also been vice chair of the Medina Salvation Army board and remains active in Leadership Medina County.

His involvement extends to youth and civic programs, including Medina Youth Baseball and Basketball, the High School Key Club (where he is a Kiwanis advisor), Junior Achievement and the Medina Citizens Police Academy. He has also supported local history and veteran initiatives through the Medina County Historical Society, Friends of the Cemetery, the Stephenson and Feckley foundations, and American Legion Buckeye Boys State.

Medina Weekly: Deer remain a talked-about issue among property owners and motorists, despite recent legislative efforts allowing permit-based hunting. As mayor, how would you address these concerns?

Coyne: Deer property damage and deer-car incidents are one of the most pressing safety concerns in our city. Our current bowhunting program is simply not working. We need to adopt a more comprehensive deer management plan that incorporates several strategies to manage the deer population within city limits in order to promote an ecosystem balance. The plan should include provisions addressing deer’s migrating habits, eating habits, deterrents, scare devices, repellants and culling.

With respect to culling, and to ensure the safety of our residents, we either need to have qualified and trained law enforcement personnel in our community or have sharpshooters harvest the deer. Implementing just one provision of the plan will not suffice to make our community safer. We need several strategies implemented simultaneously to maximize our chances of reducing deer damage to residential properties and making our roads safer to travel.

Shields: The No. 1 issue residents share with me is Medina’s overpopulation of deer. Many voters have voiced concerns to the administration and City Council that the deer herd needs to be reduced. As mayor, I will continue to support our current reduction program – controlled bowhunting – and introduce additional options that will further decrease the herd and make our community safer.

There is a careful, step-by-step process in place the city is pursuing under the oversight and guidance of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which manages deer throughout Ohio. Each step is being taken thoughtfully, with resident safety always as the top priority. As mayor, I will ensure that this work continues until Medina’s deer concerns are addressed and our neighborhoods are safer for everyone.

MW: Some residents have voiced concern about enforcement of the city’s sidewalk ordinance, which states maintenance is a property owner’s responsibility. As mayor, what do you feel could be done to ensure quality sidewalks?

Coyne: Safe and accessible sidewalks are a fundamental responsibility of the government. Currently, the maintenance, repair and replacement of the city’s sidewalks are the resident’s responsibility, which can be a significant financial burden on the property owner. I believe it is time to replace this program with one that places the responsibility and cost on the city.

We should create a system that enables residents to report sidewalks in disrepair and difficult to navigate, allowing the city to take action to make all sidewalks passable and safe for all residents, especially children, elderly and disabled residents that use them on a regular basis. Ensuring that our sidewalks are well-maintained will enhance the overall quality of life in our city and demonstrate our commitment to the safety and accessibility of all our residents.

Shields: The City of Medina has invested significant time and resources into improving our streets. I believe it is now equally important to focus on our sidewalks. Making Medina a more walkable community will be one of my priorities as mayor. The city already has a plan in place for sidewalk improvements through 2028, but we have fallen behind on its implementation.

Currently, the city ordinance requires homeowners to cover the cost of replacing sidewalks unless a city tree caused the damage. While this is the law, I believe we must find ways to work alongside residents to ensure sidewalks in every neighborhood are safe and accessible without creating an undue financial burden. Walkability is key to both safety and quality of life, and I am committed to moving the sidewalk improvements forward.

MW: If elected, what might life look for you with respect to the office of mayor and the full-time job you currently hold?

Coyne: I would step down as a shareholder at Roetzel and become of counsel to transition my work to other attorneys within the firm. If elected, my priority will be to serve the residents and businesses of the City of Medina first and foremost. My commitment to the City of Medina is paramount.

Shields: If elected, serving as mayor will be my full-time job. The city and the school district have a long history of collaboration, and I will continue to support those efforts to find new ways to save taxpayers’ money. Having a solid working relationship already built between the city and schools is an advantage for the community. My only paid position will be as mayor, and I am fully committed to dedicating my time and energy to serving the people of Medina. My heart is in Medina, and as mayor, I will always make our community a priority.

MW: Both of you are longtime public servants. What has been your most rewarding experience – or favorite memory – in service to Medina?

Coyne: Though I have several, I would have to say my favorite memory would have to be the first time the City of Medina lit the Christmas lights on the square with several thousand people gathered to share in the experience creating a deep sense of community. It was truly magical and made me proud to have been the creator of something that has had such a positive impact on so many people and their families. The joy and togetherness that filled the air that night are something I will never forget.

Shields: On a personal level, I have greatly enjoyed teaching annual civics lessons to third graders during my 24 years serving on City Council. Each spring, I look forward to assigning students city government roles and hearing their ideas about Medina — it’s a tradition that continues to inspire me. From a city perspective, serving as chair of the Public Properties Committee has been especially rewarding. Working with three parks directors over the years, I’ve been proud to help open two splash pads, expand the dog park, keep the recreation center vibrant, and update and reopen the city pool. This past summer, the pool had its most profitable season yet. I am pleased that Medina families have access to a city pool that provides affordable and fun summer recreation for all.

MW: How can constituents best reach your campaign for more information?

Coyne: You can contact me through my website: coyneformayor.com; Facebook; Instagram or email me at coyneformayor@gmail.com.

Shields: My website is JimShieldsMedina.com, and my campaign central is located at 125 N. Court Street, Medina.