Akron Municipal Building

Akron City Council meets on the third floor of the Akron Municipal Building, 166 South High Street.

(John Harper, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

AKRON, Ohio -- A union president, government watchdog and a host of familiar face politicians are among the 29 candidates running for 10 Akron City Council ward seats.

Among the most tightly contested seats will be Ward 10, which council President Garry Moneypenny vacated when he became mayor for 10 days. New council President Mike Freeman's Ward 9 seat, Tara Mosley-Samples' Ward 5 seat and Bob Hoch's Ward 6 seat are also competitive.

There are also 14 candidates -- 10 Democrats and four Republicans -- running for the three at-large Akron City Council seats. Only the Democrats will hold a September primary.

Here is a rundown of the races for Akron City Council. If you are unsure about which wards are where, click here to view a map.

Ward 10

Former state Rep. Zack Milkovich and United Steelworkers local President Jack Hefner have the most political experience on the Democratic ballot. Hefner will likely be chosen as a temporary replacement in the council seat next week.

Eric Garrett, the owner of Beating Expectations barber college who applied for a $50,000 city grant and was denied by City Council, is also running.

On the Republican side is Wayne Darlington, a former Summit County Board of Elections employee who attends nearly every city council meeting.

Ward 9

Attorney Nolan James will oppose current Council President Mike Freeman on the Democratic side of the ticket.

James, a 28-year-old Cleveland native, got his start in city politics after meeting Neighborhood Assistance Director John Valle at a University Park Alliance event in 2012.

John Cooper has entered the race as a Republican.

Ward 8

Longtime incumbent Marilyn Keith, a Democrat, does not have a primary opponent. She will face Republican challenger Pastor Michael Martin in the November election.

Ward 7

Democratic Councilman Donnie Kammer, who was elected council president pro tempore during Thursday's special meeting, does not have a primary opponent and will face Republican Charles Garman in the November election.

Ward 6

Democratic Councilman Bob Hoch, who was uninvited from former Mayor Don Plusquellic's State of the City speech after questioning his request to buy $1.9 million worth of construction equipment, is facing two challengers in the Democratic primary.

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Danny Gable, a longtime Ellet residen, former Summit County deputy sheriff and president of the Ellet Peewee Football Association and attorney Bradford Carlton are running.

The Ward 6 community rallied behind Hoch during the debacle with Plusquellic. Residents of the ward packed council chambers to show their support and ACME Food Markets CEO Steve Albrecht wrote a letter of support to the Akron Beacon Journal.

Ward 5

Former Councilman Ken Jones is back in the race against Councilwoman Mosley-Samples. Samples had anticipated several months ago that Jones, who she defeated in the 2013 primary, would challenge her again.

Jones filed a complaint with the Summit County Board of Elections in the last race, claiming Mosley-Samples did not live at the address she listed in Ward 5. The board upheld Samples' residency.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Gene Littlefield in November.

Ward 4

One of the most crowded ward primary will be Russ Neal's.

Neal, who lost a vote to become council president 7-5 last week, will face Jim Jeffries, an unknown, and Eufrancia Lash, a public relations consultant and University of Akron graduate, in the Democratic primary.

The winner of that primary will face Republican Travis Johns in the November election.

Ward 3

Margo Sommerville, who replaced her father Marco on council in 2012 and was affirmed by voters the following year, will face Valerie Edgerson in the primary.

Edgerson lost to Sommerville in the 2013 primary (see a campaign video below). The winner will face Republican Jerry Nathaniel Christian in November.

Ward 2

Councilman James Hurley will face former City Councilman Bruce Kilby in a primary battle for Ward 2.

Kilby served two stints on council before he lost to Hurley and resigned in November 2013. He was arrested for driving with an open container of alcohol while his grandson in his car the following January.

The primary winner will face Republican Lorenzo Butts.

Ward 1

Rich Swirsky will face no Democratic challenger in Ward 1. Republican Christina Barry will square off for the seat in November.

Barry listed her address in the race in Cuyahoga Falls. It is unclear if she has another residence in Akron.

Click here to read the full list of Summit County 2015 candidates on mobile.