In January, Stark County will have its first-ever Black elected prosecutor. Republican Kyle Stone, 37, will also be the only Black county prosecutor in the state of Ohio.
鈥淚 am willing to do whatever it takes so that we can make sure that everyone no matter who they are in Stark County, they feel safe,鈥� Stone says.
Stone is the managing attorney at KLS Law LLC in Canton, and says the three pillars of his campaign were unity, transparency and justice.
鈥淚 feel that when justice is the focus, it鈥檚 easy to be transparent,鈥� Stone says. 鈥淎nd when it鈥檚 easy to be transparent, you an unify the community together.鈥�
In November's election, Stone beat 17-year incumbent 51-48%. Stone credits a 鈥渞ed wave鈥� for Republicans in Stark County that boosted his campaign, and says Ferrero was not as active with court cases as he will be.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 see John trying cases,鈥� Stone argues. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 really get to see him in the community actively advocating for criminal justice reform or advocating for non- violence.鈥�
Stone says he recognizes that law enforcement officers have been under intense scrutiny after in May at the hands of Minneapolis Police. He also has questions about a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy's fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., 23, earlier this month, which remains under investigation by Columbus Police and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know all the details of what transpired with that young man鈥檚 death in Columbus just recently, but we have to hold people accountable,鈥� Stone says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not OK that individuals who鈥檝e done nothing wrong should die at the hands of police.鈥�
Stone says his life in Southeast Canton growing up in a single-parent household also gives him a special perspective he'll bring to the prosecutor鈥檚 office.
鈥淭here are just certain things that as an African American male that I have a perspective and an understanding of that an individual who has not lived my life could not necessarily fully grasp,鈥� Stone says.
Stone will be the second Black county prosecutor ever elected in Ohio. The first was the late Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, who served in Cuyahoga County from 1991-99.
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