A kid from Rittman giving back: Leading with community in mind

If you live in Northeast Ohio, you're familiar with the "kid from Akron" who gives back to make his hometown a better place. What about the kid from Rittman? Born and raised in the city, Charles "Rudy" Arnold returned home to raise his family and now, six months into his first term as mayor, is working to shape Rittman's future while preserving the small-town values that brought him back.

Both born and raised in Rittman, Mayor Arnold and his wife decided to move home during the COVID pandemic after spending several years away while Arnold served in the military and later pursued his professional career. They wanted their son to have the same experience they enjoyed growing up in a small town.

After returning home, Arnold had no plans to enter politics. In fact, he originally intended to support then-Mayor Bill Robertson for another term. But after learning Robertson was retiring and only one candidate had filed for the position, Arnold decided to throw his own hat in the ring.

"I love this community and want to give back to my hometown," Arnold said. "I felt the community deserved more than one candidate to choose from, and I wanted to apply my professional experience and skills to benefit Rittman."

Arnold remains focused on bringing the community together and helping Rittman become what residents want it to be. “My top priority is advocating for the community,” Arnold said. “I want to showcase what Rittman is, not what it isn’t.”

Believing Rittman is still a true American hometown, Arnold wants it to remain family-friendly, safe and affordable. That belief was reinforced by a comment from a recent Rittman High School graduate who told him she couldn’t wait to leave town. “That comment stayed with me,” Arnold said. “So many people don’t realize how special small-town communities are until they’re gone. Communities like Rittman, Creston and Smithville are unique and worth preserving.”

Another experience has Arnold thinking carefully about the long-term impact of decisions made today. While attending a recent event, he heard local philanthropist Barry Romich challenge attendees to consider how today's decisions will impact future generations. “Romich said to imagine talking with your grandkids' grandkids,” Arnold said. “It changed how I think about leadership.”

With long-term implications in mind, Arnold wants to focus on understanding and addressing the current needs of residents and business owners. “My goals should reflect the community’s goals,” said Arnold. “This role is about serving residents, not pursuing personal priorities.”

One need Arnold has heard loud and clear from the community is the desire for a pharmacy. “I’m hopeful we can make this happen,” said Arnold. “I want Rittman to be welcoming to entrepreneurs.”

A recent project Arnold is excited about is the new ice cream and sweets shop on the corner of Main and Ohio streets. Operated by a young couple from the Cleveland area, the business is already planning an expansion due to strong demand. “I enjoy seeing residents walk downtown to support local businesses,” Arnold said.

Building on Rittman's existing business community, Arnold hopes to strengthen what already exists while creating opportunities for future growth. “I believe Rittman is ready for another period of economic growth,” said Arnold. He pointed to the efforts of the Rittman Chamber of Commerce to support small businesses and the Wayne Economic Development Council's marketing of the city's 74-acre industrial property as examples of ongoing efforts to attract investment and create opportunities. “I see lots of opportunities for continued expansion for both large and small businesses,” Arnold said.

For Arnold, one of the biggest challenges as mayor has been finding ways to get more residents engaged. “I don’t believe this is unique to Rittman,” Arnold said. “I see similar struggles in service organizations, veterans organizations and civic groups. I want to inspire younger generations to become involved.”

One pleasant surprise, however, has been an increase in residents attending city council meetings. “Community members seem increasingly comfortable bringing concerns and issues to council,” Arnold said. “Problems can’t be addressed if leaders don’t know about them, so I view this participation as a success.”

Arnold praised the work of Finance Director Crystal Marcum. “She is working diligently to keep the city financially stable, increase transparency and make financial information easier for residents to understand,” said Arnold, describing the city as financially solid overall.

While the city remains financially stable, Arnold acknowledged significant challenges remain. “We still have major infrastructure needs,” he said. “The question is how the city addresses those needs with available funding.”

Looking ahead, Arnold said he would not be surprised if an income tax proposal returns in the future. “Any future tax request must clearly demonstrate how those funds would improve the city,” he said.

Arnold also emphasized the importance of partnerships during his first six months in office. He credited neighboring community leaders, including Wooster Mayor Bob Reynolds, Orrville Mayor Matt Plybon, State Representative Meredith Craig and the Wayne Economic Development Council with helping him navigate challenges, better understand economic development opportunities and learn from their experiences.

“Community progress requires collaboration,” Arnold said. “I've been fortunate to have leaders around me who are willing to share ideas, discuss challenges and work together to make Wayne County stronger.”

Asked what he hopes people will say after his first year in office, Arnold's answer wasn't about projects completed or dollars invested. Instead, he hopes residents will say he listened, addressed their concerns and always tried to move the city forward. A lifelong public servant, Arnold says every decision is made with the greater good of the community in mind. And if, five years from now, Rittman remains a place families are proud to call home, then the kid from Rittman will know he succeeded in giving back to the hometown that first gave so much to him.