TWINSBURG: Voters have two council races to decide in next month’s general election in a city where the repeal of a quarter-percent tax hike, business attraction and creative ways of maintaining existing services are among the top issues.The offices are non-partisan.In Ward 2, incumbent Bob McDermott is being challenged by political newcomers Daisy Walker and Sheila Williams.McDermott, a retired manager of material control and purchasing, is finishing his second term on the council. He said the city’s financial health continues to be the biggest challenge.“A strong financial city gives us the monetary resources to better serve the community,” McDermott said. “We must limit our borrowing and spend no more than we take in. The plan is to focus on improving our city income tax revenues by finding new ways to attract new businesses.”Walker, a grant writer and chair of the Twinsburg Environmental Commission, has served in a variety of city roles, from clerk of courts to the mayor’s executive assistant. She said her focus would be on “financial stability, expansion of economic opportunities, government-funded training programs for green jobs and the movement of wellness programs by partnering with Cleveland Clinic’s comprehensive preventive health care program to reduce employee’s health-care costs.”Williams teaches at Shaw High School in East Cleveland and has served on several local boards and committees, including the Twinsburg Tax Incentive Review Committee, Beautification Board and Joint Economic Development District board.Her goals include repealing the tax increase, revitalizing the square and finding more grants to offset costs of several city programs.In Ward 3, incumbent Ted Yates faces Steve Murphy, an investment adviser who has served on the council twice in the past decade.Murphy said his focus would be to “continue providing the services our residents have become accustomed to: a senior center, parks with plenty of activities for everyone, a top-notch service department and the finest police and fire protection.”Both Murphy and Yates favor repealing the tax increase.Yates is an attorney for Christley, Herington & Pierce in Aurora and is the contracted prosecutor for the city of Aurora.He said Twinsburg needs to “aggressively pursue economic development that will broaden the city’s tax base,” while in the residential areas, he seeks to “preserve green space and provide safe access to Twinsburg’s parks and recreational areas.”Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.