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Former Summit County politician Mark Ravenscraft, 69, dies

Akron Beacon Journal - 6/9/2017

June 08--Mark Ravenscraft was never shy in sharing his opinion.

Whether he was feuding with fellow Summit County politicians or advocating for disability rights, he always went full force.

That passion -- mixed with his wit, intelligence and penchant for debating -- earned him plenty of friends and enemies throughout his career.

Mr. Ravenscraft, 69, a political wunderkind who was once the youngest county commissioner in Ohio, died Wednesday in Tallahassee, Fla. He had been living in Florida since the early 1990s.

"He was passionate about politics and passionate about disability rights. That is his legacy," said his son Paul Ravenscraft of Phoenix, Ariz.

He said his father, who was paralyzed from the waist down because of childhood polio, recently had fallen and broken both his knee caps. He died while at a rehabilitation facility.

Mr. Ravenscraft, a Democrat, was elected in 1970 at age 23 as a Summit County commissioner. He also served as an Akron city councilman in the mid-1970s and as a county councilman in the 1980s.

An insurance underwriter and real estate salesman when he launched his political career, he later ran an industrial and commercial cleaning business.

The Akron native received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1969 and his master's in business administration from Baldwin Wallace College in 1984.

He resigned from his county position in 1991 and moved to Florida full time to continue working for the Stein Gerontological Institute, a senior citizens think tank.

While in Florida, Mr. Ravenscraft also created the Capital Polio Association; formed the Ravenscraft Group, a marketing, advertising and internet research firm specializing in health care and services for people with disabilities; and ran in 2007 for state Senate.

"He was a good father," Paul Ravenscraft said. "He was a good man. He just had a spirit of inquiry. ... In his day, he was very controversial and he was a colorful guy, but he impacted a lot of people."

Mr. Ravenscraft -- who spoke Spanish, German and some Russian and used a wheelchair -- was a strong and outspoken character for more than two decades in Summit County politics.

"Mark knew an awful lot about county government and took his job very seriously," said Clair Dickinson, who served with him on County Council in the 1980s.

There are many stories about Mr. Ravenscraft's feuds with other politicians, including those within his own party.

Former county Prosecutor Stephan Gabalac labeled him as "King Mark" and the "Penchant Prince of Summit."

Former county Councilman Frank Gaffney once remarked after a contentious budget hearing: "I might for Christmas get Mr. [Paul] Gallagher and Mr. Ravenscraft squirt guns so they can do battle in the hallway!"

In 1986, he single-handedly passed the county budget through the council's finance committee after other members didn't show up for a hearing because they were miffed at him. Mr. Ravenscraft proceeded with the hearing as if the other committee members were present.

"The chairman will entertain a motion for a favorable report," he said after each item. Then, "I so move. Discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed, same sign."

He also admitted in 1990 that he didn't show up at human services committee meetings, which he chaired, because, "I'm outvoted on my own committee, so it's quite pointless to sit there when it's a stacked deck."

When Mr. Ravenscraft left county government, former Councilman Pete Crossland recounted a story to the Beacon Journal about Mr. Ravenscraft accusing fellow council members of owing their souls to others.

He pointed to everyone in the room identifying to whom they were beholden and then addressed himself.

"Everybody knows I don't have a soul," Mr. Ravenscraft reportedly said.

A profile in the Akron Beacon Journal in March 1991 described him this way: "He's been called one of the most intelligent people ever to hold office in the county and praised as a representative of the little man. He has been cursed as being derisive and detrimental to enlightened, cooperative government, and labeled a demagogue."

When he called a news conference in 1991 to sign his letter of resignation from County Council, he left reporters with the impression that he may return one day.

"I will always be a resident of Akron in heart, mind and spirit," Mr. Ravenscraft said.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .

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(c)2017 the Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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