Morning Journal - VOTE 2012

2 • MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

Incumbent county commissioner faces pair of challengers

By TOM GIAMBRONI Staff Writer

LISBON — One of the Columbiana County commissioner contests features a three-way race between incumbent John Payne, Unity Township Trustee Tim Weigle, and former commissioner and state representative John Wargo.

Payne was chosen by the county Democratic Party in January to fill the position following the resignation of Penny Traina to take a job in the private sector. Weigle is the Republican nominee, while Wargo is a lifelong Democrat running as an independent candidate.

Payne’s career as a public official dates back 30 years when he served a term as mayor of East Liverpool, followed by a stint on city council. He worked 14 years as director and deputy director of the county elections board before retiring in 2005 to take a job as a member of former Congressman Charlie Wilson’s local staff. That job ended when Wilson lost his re-election bid in 2010.

Payne, 66, has also worked for a while as a junior and high school teacher and coach, and he was an administrator and teacher at the former Ohio Valley Business College.

He has a bachelor’s degree in business from Kent State University, a master’s degree in school administration from the University of Dayton, and a doctorate in public education from Northwestern International University, an online college.

Payne believes the contacts he has made throughout his career are an asset in his job as commissioner, which he views as a quasi-administrative position.

Payne said he has been working on several economic development projects related to the shale gas boom that he is not at liberty to discuss publicly just yet.

“I think what we can do locally is try and take advantage of the oil and gas industry that’s coming in here and see what we can do to develop that,” he said.

The county needs to focus on ensuring educational opportunities related to the drilling industry are available and on making the necessary water, sewer and road improvements.

“What attracts businesses is infrastructure and education.

You have to have adequate building facilities, roads, water and electricity, and the skilled work force to match that,” he said.

The drilling boom represents a major economic development opportunity for the county, and Payne said one way to take advantage of that opportunity is resurrect the county Progress Council, a volunteer organization of local businessmen and community leaders created in the 1990s.

The Progress Council was active in trying to bring the Saturn plant to the county, along with the federal prison, which was eventually located in Elkton. Payne said they need that same coordinated effort among local leaders, working with See COMMISSIONER, Page 11

Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer

A color intense sunset combined with some dark, scattered rain clouds created a patriotic red, white and blue sky over Lisbon.

Bosel, Myers square off for county recorder

By TOM GIAMBRONI Staff Writer

LISBON — The race for Columbiana County recorder features two candidates— Republican Theresa Bosel and Democrat Brenda Dickey Myers — who boast of business backgrounds they say give them the necessary experience to run the office.

Bosel, of Lisbon, is making her first run for public office, while Myers ran for county commissioner in 2008, losing to Republican Jim Hoppel. Myers, who is from Salem, won the Democratic nomination in March by defeating incumbent Recorder Craig Brown.

Bosel, 41, has worked for about 15 years in sales and marketing for several businesses. She worked most recently as director of marketing and public relations for The Orchards at Foxcrest in Chester, W.Va., and now helps run her husband’s wood-cutting business. Bosel has also worked a stint as a police officer when she was younger and is a graduate of the Ohio Police Academy and Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy.

Myers, 56, has been a radiologic technologist, farmer and more recently an administrator/sales representative for

21st Century Alarm/Data in Salem.

A licensed esthetician, she also operates a spa in Salem — B’s Wax & Body Shop in McLaughlin’s Salon.

Both said one of their chief goals is to restore credibility to the Bosel office following the recent turmoil surrounding how the recorder responded to the avalanche of shale gas leases and the controversy over Brown’s alleged improper comments to a former employee.

Neither has any specific plans for the office, and both said they would meet with recorder’s staff to determine what needs to be done. Bosel said she has already done that and found the staff to be “frustrated” with the equipment and lack of willingness on Brown’s part to accept their suggestions to improve operations.

“I have no plans, but I’d like to sit down with the staff and have a detailed conversation. They have some needs, and I’d like to try to meet those needs,” she said.

To learn more about the office, Bosel said she has met with Brown and also intends to meet with the Carroll County recorder. She has also begun trying to familiarize herself with the software programs recorders use to do Myers their job.

Bosel said the only person who really has the training for the job is the recorder and his staff, “but I’m a quick learner, I’m intelligent and I’m ready to hit the ground running.”

Brown laid off an employee in September due to insufficient funding, reducing his staff to three. Bosel would work to ensure she has enough funding to maintain a staff of four workers, which she said is the minimum needed to properly operate.

“They’re borrowing staples from the commissioners and auditor’s office.

That’s unacceptable. You have to be able to come in and manage the office and budget,” she said.

See RECORDER, Page 14

MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012 • 3

Hoppel battles challenge from Csonka for commissioner’s seat

By TOM GIAMBRONI Staff Writer

LISBON — Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel, who has already served a record four consecutive terms, is seeking a fifth in the Nov. 6 general election.

He is opposed by Center Township Trustee Joe Csonka, who is making his first run for countywide office. Csonka is a Democrat, while Hoppel is a Republican.

Hoppel, 74, would like to serve another four years because he said for the first time in years the county’s financial fortunes may be improving to where they can afford to spend additional money where it is needed: the county drug task force and the sheriff’s office, for starters.

He said both agencies need additional officers to better do their jobs, and Hoppel would especially like to see the sheriff be in a position to

bring on at least two additional deputies.

Another priority would be to reinstate the county economic development director position, which was eliminated in the early 2000s as a cost-cutting move. “We do well with what we have, but we need to do more,” he said of their economic development efforts.

A director would work on recruiting businesses and with local chambers of commerce and other development organizations.

“Government doesn’t create jobs.

Government creates the atmosphere that attracts the businesses that create jobs,” Hoppel said.

The additional revenue is in the form of casino tax money commissioners began receiving this year, money from leasing county property for drilling, plus an increase in revenue generated by the two county sales taxes. Sales tax revenue is up 8

percent over 2011.

Hoppel also addressed the casino tax issue, after communities in the county have suggested commissioners share that money with them. He prefers waiting until Hoppel commissioners get a better idea how much casino revenue they can expect to receive because the county government certainly has a number of needs that should be, addressed before they consider giving the money away.

“We’ve had it tough making ends meet and often haven’t been able to do what needs to be done,” he said.

“I think at this point we need to sit back and see how the county finances stabilize ... and then go from there.”

Hoppel said none of this should

Bolon, Gearhart seek treasurer’s job

By TOM GIAMBRONI Staff Writer

LISBON — Former Columbiana County Treasurer Linda Bolon wants her old job back, and standing in her way in the Nov. 6 general election is Middleton Township Trustee Eldena Gearhart.

Bolon, 64, a Democrat, served as county treasurer from 2000 to 2006 before leaving to run for state representative. She served in that capacity for two terms before being defeated in 2010 by Craig Newbold.

The treasurer position came open this year after Nick Barborak, a Democrat, decided to run for state representative.

When asked why she opted to run for her old job instead of a rematch with Newbold, Bolon said it appears the Democrats would remain in the minority in the state legislature for the near future, and she dislikes not being able to get things done. She said being treasurer would also allow her to remain in the county and closer to her two granddaughters in Columbiana.

Gearhart, 63, said she was approached by the county Republican Party about running for the position, and, after much prayer and con-

sideration, agreed to give it a shot. She enjoys a new challenge, and being elected treasurer would certainly fall into that category.

During her first stint as treasurer, Bolon said she focused on updating the office computer system and making other changes to streamline operations, including hiring a company to process tax bills instead of the staff continuing to do it by hand. She also came up with a user-friendly tax bill that shows property owners where their real estate taxes go.

As for collecting delinquent property taxes, Bolon said she developed a payment plan for those behind on their taxes and made it easier for others to pay by using their credit card or having the money deducted from their income tax return.

“I had a lot of things to do when I took office,” she said.

When asked if it was possible to be more aggressive in collecting delinquent taxes, Bolon said many tax delinquencies are impossible to collect, a problem made worse by the recession.

“I think this is one area where you have to use some compassion, and each particular sitSee TREASURER, Page 12

come as a surprise, noting the state Constitutional amendment passed by voters clearly says the money is to be shared among counties, Ohio’s 10 largest cities, the state and school disCsonka tricts.

“The people voting for it should know what they are voting for,” he said.

Hoppel pointed out commissioners have a history of sharing some of their additional sources of funding, such as federal Community Development Block Grant, which they spread among communities. The Engineer’s Office also provides resurfacing services, with the participating townships and villages purchasing the material.

“We’ve always worked with communities, always had a good

ELECT

working relationship, and we will continue to do so,” he said.

Hoppel cited as one of his recent accomplishments construction of the new county government services building. “I think it was a good move,” he said.

The old county building that housed the Department of Job and Family Services had fallen into disrepair to the point where commissioners determined a new building was needed. He said they took some flack for doing it, with some saying they spent tax dollars to benefit the people on public assistance.

“We didn’t build it for the welfare people. We built if for the people who work there,” Hoppel said.

He also spoke about why he was opposed to the top three people recommended for the county Emergency Management Agency director See CHALLENGE, Page 13

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4 • MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

Race for sheriff pits Stone against Soldano for second time

By DEANNE JOHNSON Staff Writer

LISBON — The race for county sheriff this fall is a rerun pitting Sheriff Ray Stone, this time with more than four years experience in this position under his belt, against Leetonia Police Chief John Soldano, who is running for the office for the fourth time.

During his time in office Stone said he has worked to keep the county and his officers as safe as possible on the limited amount of money he is provided in his budget each year. He has upgraded the patrol car tires to police-grade tires, which are rated for high speed and safer to drive on.

Stone said he also got the grant previously being used by the prosecutor’s office for bullet proof vests to buy them for the deputies. He

was able to get 21 vests through the program and can still purchase the two the prosecutor’s investigators need.

“I bought better vests, and the govStone ernment paid for half of them,” Stone said.

Additionally, Stone traded in the older handguns in the department for $299 each and bought new guns valued at $550. However, he was able to get them for free and replaced every handgun.

Stone said he was able to procure a COPS technology grant for $47,900 to use for new laptops and a service to run the driver’s licenses which brings up the driver’s photos and warrant information directly

into the car.

Deputies can even read license plates through a camera reader, checking vehicles for suspended licenses and stolen cars.

He was also Soldano able to get MARCS radio for the department in August 2008 and the packs for the trunks of the vehicles to help bounce the signals into some of the areas of the county without service.

Stone also made sure the sheriff’s department got the new $7,000 computer every county in Ohio was promised through the attorney general’s office, which allows live scanning of fingerprints.

Prior to Columbiana County’s computer arriving, the nearest was

in Trumbull County.

Stone said he upgraded the appraisers, making sure certified appraisers go out with the uncertified appraisers. He also reorganized the civil division, with non-uniformed officers handling sheriff sales. He said he hired a person with banking experience to handle the sheriff sales, which has increased the efficiency of that operation and allowed him to place deputies who had previously been assigned to that division back onto the road to patrol and handle calls.

Additionally, Stone said he revamped video arraignments by having employees at the county jail monitoring the arraignments rather than having a deputy perform the job, which had been the case. He said the move puts those deputies back on road patrols for two and a half more hours per day.

Stone said he has also started charging $5 for transport fees when inmates do have to be taken to municipal court. The fee is paid by the defendant.

“I try to do whatever I can to try to expand my budget without asking the commissioners for the money,” Stone said.

Stone has brought about $150,000 into the county in grants, and Soldano credits him for doing so. However, Soldano has plenty of criticism for the sheriff.

Soldano said he believes there is grant money available to put additional deputies on the road or in classrooms in schools like Southern Local, United Local and Beaver Local. However, Stone said those grants usually go to municipalities.

Soldano said it still would not keep See SHERIFF, Page 10

West Township seeks new road levy

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN Staff Writer

A longtim efinanceprofessionaland dedicated com m unity volunteer,

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QUALIFIED BY EXPERIENCE. Paid for by Eldena Gearhart for Col. County Treasurer.

Treasurer Thomas McKinney • 47252 Chippewa Trail, Negley, OH 44441

EAST ROCHESTER — A 3-mill road levy will help the West Township Road Department maintain and repair roads over the coming years, Trustee Glenn Whiteleather said.

Township residents are currently paying on a 1-mill road levy that will expire in 2015. The levy generates approximately $47,000 a year.

Whiteleather said that without the tax funding it will be difficult to run the department.

“When that 1-mill goes off (expires) we are actually not going to have any more money than we had six years ago,” he said, noting that residents have been paying on some form of a road levy over the last six years.

Since then, the cost of materials and equipment has gone up while revenue has gone down.

He said the township is operating on less state funding as a result of cuts included in the two-year state budget adopted last year.

The township, along with others across the

county, is receiving less Local Government Fund money from the state as a result of the budget cuts.

The funding is first distributed to county commissioners who retain half and disburse the rest among the cities, villages, townships and municipalities.

“Columbiana County cut our budget $100,000,” he said.

Fiscal Officer Jeff Haynam said roughly $29,000 of the loss was in the form of a Local Government Fund cut from the state.

He also said he believes the township is responsible for the most roads compared to other townships in the county. It maintains 65 miles.

The department typically operates on $650,000 a year and the five-year levy would generate $154,100 annually.

The owner of a $100,000 home would pay roughly $90 a year on the tax.

In addition to the 1-mill current road levy, residents are also paying on two 1-mill fire levies. kschwendeman@mojonews.com

MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012 • 5

Newbold, Barborak vie for state representative Wellsville

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN Staff Writer

LISBON — Education, jobs, responsible spending, and breaking down party lines are on the minds of the two men running for state representative.

Craig Newbold, the Republican incumbent from Columbiana, faces off against Democrat Nick Barborak, of Lisbon on Nov. 6. Barborak is currently the county treasurer, a position he has held since 2007. It is his first time running for the state seat.

Newbold currently represents the 1st District and is seeking a second term. He is vice chair of the commerce, labor and technology committee, and member of the education, finance and appropriations committees and higher education subcommittee.

Over the last 44 years he has worked in management for several companies and created his own, including BEST Consulting, which he founded in Seattle, Wash. in 1990.

He currently serves as founder of NewLife Academy of Information Technology, Newbold Technologies and American Spirit Initiative, all of which are located in his hometown of East Liverpool and geared toward helping people in economically distressed areas through information technology.

He is a Beaver Local High School graduate

and graduate of the University of Cincinnati Executive Program. He also holds a degree in business administration from Aquinas College in Michigan.

Prior to being elected as treasurer, Barborak spent several years studying and practicing law and is a founding Newbold partner of the Barborak Law Offices in Lisbon. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Akron School of Law and has served on the Akron Law Review. After earning the doctorate he accepted a position as a law clerk to the 7th District Court of Appeals and later served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Columbiana County. He is a 1993 graduate of Lisbon David Anderson High School and also holds a degree in political science from Kent State University.

Barborak said that if elected, he wants to focus on communities and making sure youths receive a good education, and that starts by talking “across the lines.”

“It starts with discourse and dialogue. It’s difficult to get things done with partisanship,” he said.

He said the budget cuts enacted to offset the projected state deficit only hurt Ohio’s

Wellsville fire levy renewal on ballot

By RICHARD SBERNA Staff Writer

WELLSVILLE — The second of two issues facing Wellsville voters on Nov. 6 is a fire levy renewal that Fire Chief Bill Smith said is critical to maintaining an acceptable level of protection for residents.

Funds from the 1.4-mill levy, which will generate an estimated $32,500 per year over its five-year term, would go toward basic operation of the Wellsville Fire Department, such as equipment maintenance. Although Smith would like to hire additional part-time firefighters if the money becomes available, the levy

will only fund existing personnel. “Nothing new, just to continue on,” he said.

Smith said that the failure of the levy wouldn’t result in the closure of the department, but it could necessitate cutbacks in firefighters’ hours, meaning that there wouldn’t be firefighters on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as is the case now.

“We’ve cut everything else we can cut already,” he said. “No other place to cut.”

Smith stressed that this levy is a renewal which village residents have approved for years and which will not result in higher taxes.

“It’s not going to cost them anything,” he said.

“They’re paying it already.”

Rogers seeks five-year operating levy

ROGERS – Residents are being asked on Nov. 6 to pass a new 2-mill operating levy that would generate $4,600 a year for five years. The levy would raises taxes by $30.63 for the owner of a $50,000 home and by $61.25 for the owner of a $100,000 home.

seeks floodwall levy’s renewal

communities, counties and schools and that instead, money could have been saved by eliminating tax breaks for special interests.

He added he doesn’t believe the state legislature looked at what the cuts would do in the long run. He mentioned the Columbiana Barborak School District, which has not put a levy before voters since 2002 but this year requested a bond issue to pay for the refurbishment of the middle school. The issue was defeated by voters in May. “All these cuts did was force schools and communities to ask voters to approve levies to make up for lost monies ... I think property owners feel like they are tapped out,” he said.

He also said House Bill 136, which Newbold co-sponsored, would only allow for more money to go to charter schools. The legislation, currently stalled in the legislature, would expand the voucher program to allow parents earning up to $95,000 to send their children to a private school using vouchers and regardless of whether the current school was failing academically.

“It’s really hurting our public school sys-

WELLSVILLE — With a ceremony held little more than a month ago to celebrate the completion of an eight-year-long mural project, Wellsville residents may presume that the village floodwall system is doing just fine. According to Fire Chief Bill Smith, however, that would be a mistake. For that reason, he says the 0.5-mill, five-year floodwall renewal levy needs voters’ support.

In his role as fire chief, Smith also serves as administrator of the village’s flood control system, of which the floodwall is the most prominent element. He says that many people, including some longtime residents, only think of the floodwall as the portion that begins underneath the state Route 7 overpass and runs across Wells Avenue toward the marina.

“Most people think it’s [only] there, at the big gate,” he said.

See STATE REP, Page 12

See FLOOD WALL, Page 14

By RICHARD SBERNA Staff Writer

ELECT

LINDA S. BOLON BOLON COLUMBIANA COUNTY TREASURER Let experi ence n o . Bol S a d n i work for you.

L Paid for by Friends of Linda S. Bolon, Thomas L. Bolon, Treasurer, 43 Pueblo Lane, Columbiana, OH 44408

6 • MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

Levy would cover Center’s portion of truck purchase Staff Reports

LISBON — Center Township voters are being asked in the Nov. 6 election to pass a new fire levy officials say is needed to help purchase a new pumper truck.

The 1.3-mill, five-year levy would generate an estimated $63,000 yer year, which township fiscal officer Becky Tolson said would be saved until the $300,000 was accumulated to help pay for the township’s share of the new pumper.

Center and Elkrun township contract with the Lisbon Fire Department for fire services, and the two townships are helping purchase a new pumper for the department.

Tolson said Center Township’s share is $300,000, and it will take them five years to accumulate enough money to cover its obligation. Elkrun Township voters approved a new fire two years for the same purpose.

“It’s a levy that we never intend to renew,” she said.

The levy would cost the owner of $100,000 home an additional $39.81 in real estate taxes.

Center Township has two existing fire levies — for 0.2 mills and 0.5 mills. Tolson said these levies generate a combined $28,000 per year, almost all of which is used to reimburse Lisbon for providing fire services, leaving barely any money to set aside for major purchases of this sort.

The levy would raise taxes by $40 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

Columbiana asks for ambulance levy’s renewal

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA — A 2-mill ambulance service renewal levy will help pay for a new ambulance over the coming years, EMS Chief Tom Farley said.

The five-year levy on the Nov. 6 ballot is expected to generate $268,100 a year for the EMS department and will result in no tax increase to residents.

The owner of a $50,000 home currently pays $30.63 on the levy.

used as a spare, Farley said.

He said the department is experiencing a higher volume of emergency calls, and it’s important to have a third ambulance available should the other two already be on calls.

“Third out calls are happening more frequently with an increase in call volume,” he said, adding there have been at least eight cases this year that a third ambulance was needed.

The levy was originally put on the ballot in 2003 for 1.5-mills and was increased to 2-mills in 2008, he said. kschwendeman@mojonews.com

Sandy Creek fire district seeks operating levy

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN Staff Writer

MINERVA — A fire district formed in January is seeking an additional 4-mill levy for its operation. The five-year fire and EMS levy will generate about $715,000 annually for the Sandy Creek Joint Fire District if approved.

The district is the result of a merger between the Minerva and Robertsville fire departments and serves Minerva and West Township in Columbiana County and Paris Township in Stark County. It also provides emergency medical services to the townships while Minerva receives the service from a private ambulance company.

Fire Chief Aaron Stoller said the district was formed to reduce the duplication of services and address financial constrains happening in the two townships and Minerva.

He serves as chief of the district, and the

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Farley said levy funding goes toward the general operations of the department, including the purchase of equipment and employee wages.

“We are looking at buying a new ambulance at the end of this year, beginning of next. There is always newer technology, better equipment, and we are always trying to keep up to date on that stuff,” he said.

The department currently runs two ambulances, and a third 1984-model is used by the Explorer Post and as a spare when needed. The new ambulance would replace that one and be

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departments are currently working on merging to one radio system. He said the changes have been “minor” so far and that the district operates out of the already existing fire stations in Minerva and Robertsville.

He also said another reason the district was formed was to lower the ISO rating, which would lower fire insurance costs for homeowners. Employing three people on a part-time basis through the levy funding would also result in a better ISO rating, which is what the district plans to do if voters approve the measure. “(Staffing) the fire station will allow quicker response times which will help with our ISO rating,” he said.

The 46 firefighters on the current roster are all paid-on call, meaning they are not paid if they do not respond to a fire or other accident.

Stoller said the levy will also allow the district to purchase new equipment in the future.

He said roughly $1 million of the funding over the five-year period would go toward equipment.

There are currently 13 trucks between the two stations, and they are looking to replace two fire engines and one ladder truck. The average age of the vehicles is 21 years, and the vehicles

are targeted for replacement once they reach 20 or 30 years, he noted.

The district covers approximately 80 square miles between the three municipalities and is also contracted for portions of Brown and Augusta townships in Franklin and Carroll counties. Only residents in West and Paris townships and Minerva are voting on the levy, however.

If approved, the owner of a $100,000 home would pay about $122 a year on the tax and the owner of a $50,000 home would pay roughly $61, Stoller said.

West Township residents are already paying on two 1-mill levies for fire protection, and Stoller said they would be repealed if the 4-mill levy is approved.

“West Township residents would only be looking at a 2-mill increase (since) they are already paying 2-mills,” he explained.

Paris Township residents are also already paying on two levies for fire protection.

Minerva property owners are not paying on any fire levies although there is a 1.8-mill property tax for EMS, which would not be affected if voters approve the fire district levy, he said. kschwendeman@mojonews.com

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MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012 • 7

East Palestine Johnson, Wilson face off in rematch for Congress voters to see levy renewals

By DEANNE JOHNSON Staff Writer

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN Staff Writer

EAST PALESTINE — Two park levy renewals on the Nov. 6 ballot will mean no tax increase for village residents.

The 1- and 2-mill levies combined generate $121,600 a year.

Both levy renewals are for five years and will take effect in 2013 if approved.

Councilman and Park Board Chair Alan Cohen said the levies are vital for the fundamental operation of the park.

“The greatest amount of money that the park receives comes from those levies. That basically is what the park uses as a foundation to run the basic functions of the park on a daily basis,” he said.

He also said the levies are beneficial because otherwise it’s difficult for the park to determine how much money is available to work with since income from the swimming pool and concession stand varies year to year.

“It’s the starting point for everything that the park does because they know from year to year with those levies in place how much they have to operate with,” he said.

Income from the pool and concession stand goes directly back to the pool and stand, although a portion of levy funding is set aside to support the pool during the summer.

The 2-mill levy generates $81,100, and the 1-mill levy generates $40,500 a year and money goes toward park maintenance of buildings and grounds and employee wages.

Residents have been paying on the levies for at least 20 years, and the owner of a $50,000 home pays $30.10 annually on the levies combined.

Cohen said the park wouldn’t necessarily be shut down if the levies don’t pass, but its operation would certainly be “restricted.” kschwendeman@mojonews.com

LISBON — The race for Ohio’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives is a rematch. The difference between now and two years ago is Congressman Bill Johnson currently holds the seat he took from former Congressman Charlie Wilson.

Johnson, the Republican candidate, was among many swept into office two years ago.

Wilson said he is not bitter about losing, adding he only lost by 3 percent of the vote.

He said he is more concerned about going back to get things done.

“My opponent also says Washington is broken, but he doesn’t look in the mirror,” Wilson said. “I’m not going there to get even with anyone. I’m going there to get things done.”

In his short time in office, Johnson said he is proud of his legislative record, which includes bills passing the house with bipartisan support. One of those highlights was the Stop the War on Coal Act, which was passed

233-175 by the house in late September. The act is aimed at helping the coal industry, which is seeing jobs disappear.

“I’ve got a track record of being able to come to the table and walk away with everyone getting something,” Johnson said.

Johnson His opponent, Wilson disagrees. Wilson said he has questioned whether Johnson has talked to anyone in the Senate in order to get the bills being passed by the House to move forward, but said Johnson along with other Republicans does not seem to be doing that.

“This ‘It’s either my way or the highway’ doesn’t work,” Wilson said.

Additionally, Wilson said the Stop the War on Coal Act is very similar to one passed during the time he was in office. However, Johnson claims Wilson did nothing to stop what Johnson calls (President Barack) Obama’s war on coal the last two years Wilson was in office, not even by writing a letter

about how utilizing less coal was going to affect this area.

He also criticized Wilson voting with other Democrats 98 percent of the time.

“It took me less than two years to oppose my leadership more than 100 times,” Johnson said of his voting record.

Wilson Both men talked about the opportunities the area has in the new natural gas drilling boom. They see new energy development as an opportunity to get a stagnant economy moving again along the Ohio River and across the country.

“I believe Americans can do anything,” Johnson said. “We can solve our problems.

We are innovators. We can do this without the federal government telling us what to do at every turn.”

Johnson, 57, of Marietta, continues to criticize The Affordable Care act, known to critics as Obamacare, and Wilson, who voted for See CONGRESS, Page 9

Lisbon looks to renew cemetery levy Hanover fire levy

By TOM GIAMBRONI James said the levy is needed now more renewal on ballot than ever as an increasing number of people Staff Writer

LISBON — Village voters are being asked in the Nov. 6 election to renew a 3-mill levy that serves as the chief source of funding for the Lisbon Cemetery, The levy runs for five years and otherwise expires on Dec. 31. The levy generates $57,000 to $63,000 per year, depending on collections, which Cemetery Board President Barry James said accounts for a significant portion of their operating revenue.

“We need this, to be very blunt about it,” he said of the levy, which was first passed by voters in 2002 and renewed in 2007.

Cemetery revenue totaled $110,000 last year, with the other sources of revenue coming from burials and lot sales and from the John Clarke Fund, named after the former U.S. Supreme Court associate justice and Lisbon native who died in 1945 at the age of 88 and is buried in the cemetery. Clarke’s will set aside some money from his estate to be used for maintaining the cemetery, and the amount generated by the fund was $3,458 last year.

opt to be cremated instead of being buried in a casket, which will result in a decline in revenue for the cemetery.

The levy money is used for upkeep of the cemetery buildings and grounds, grave sites, equipment and for the salaries of the one fulltime employee, two part-time workers and three seasonal workers. A portion of the money from burials and selling lots also goes into an emergency fund, which currently has a balance in excess of $300,000.

“We need to continue with what we consider a first-class cemetery,” James said, adding three people from Seattle, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were in town recently attending a relative’s burial at the cemetery, and they commented about the cemetery’s appearance.

“Here are three people who maybe come to the cemetery every 10 years, and they commented on how nice our cemetery is,” James said.

The levy cost the owner of a $100,000 home on $50 in real estate taxes.

Staff Reports

HANOVERTON — Hanover Township trustees are asking voters in the Nov. 6 election to renew a 1-mill fire levy.

The levy generates $58,600 a year and costs the owner of $100,000 home $30 in taxes. The township also has a second fire levy — a 1.1-mill levy — which generates $63,100 a year. It is up for renewal in 2014.

The money from the levies is used to fund the township fire stations in Hanoverton and Guilford Lake.

The fire fund currently has a combined balance of $180,000, which Trustee Don “Ferg” Wilson said reflects the efforts of the board and firefighters to save money to purchase a new fire truck when the time comes.

“You have to retain some of that money for the time when you need a new fire truck,” he said. The departments replace trucks about every 20 years and the cost is currently $400,000.

8 • MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

Senate faceoff proves to be nasty, expensive Redistricting

process change on Ohio’s ballot

By JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press

COLUMBUS — Job experience has surfaced as the defining issue of the hotly contested, super-expensive fight for Ohio’s Senate seat this fall.

Incumbent Democratic Sherrod Brown faces Republican Josh Mandel in the race, which is one of the highest-profile contests in the country.

Brown’s liberal voting record and surprise victory six years ago over incumbent Mike DeWine in a closely divided battleground state make him a prime target for Republicans seeking to gain Senate seats.

In a fight infused with outside money, Brown has painted Mandel as ignoring his job as state treasurer in a continual quest for higher office. Mandel says Brown has been on his job too long and Washington needs new blood.

The spat has played out in millions of dollars of television ads across the state. The Wesleyan Media Project found that $6 million was spent on more than 10,000 ads in the state Sept. 9-30 alone.

Mandel’s youth and background made him a prime contender to take on a popular incumbent. Besides being a U.S. Marine veteran who served two tours in Iraq, he’s proven a gifted fundraiser. Married into the well-heeled Ratner family of Cleveland, Mandel has raised $8.4 million to Brown’s $10.5 million, according to the most recent federal election filings.

But more than half the money being spent on the race is coming from outside groups.

Wesleyan found more than 53 percent of the September spending came from non-campaign entities. On behalf of Mandel, they’ve

Vote

By JULIE CARR SMYTH AP Statehouse Correspondent

Associated Press/Tony Dejak, File

Republican Josh Mandel speaks to supporters in Cleveland.

included the GPS Crossroads organization affiliated with former Bush strategist Karl Rove and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

On behalf of Brown, the National Education Association and other unions are putting money into the race.

At a September rally with AK Steel workers and other unions, Brown ripped the blitz of negative campaign ads aimed at him.

“You can’t turn on your TV without seeing these nasty ads,” he said.

The ads take on someone well-known to Ohio voters. Brown began his political career in 1974 as the youngest state representative in Ohio history, and went on to serve as secretary of state and congressman.

Brown has campaigned alongside President Barack Obama, touting their shared support for the federal health care overhaul and

Theresa

BOSEL F or County Recorder

Experience • Integrity • Accountability Paid for by the committee to elect Theresa Bosel Jack Marshall, Treasurer, 40270 State Route 154, Lisbon, Ohio 44432

Associated Press/Mark Duncan, File

Sherrod Brown speaks before a rally in Columbus.

the bailout of the auto industry so pivotal to the manufacturing state’s economy.

Married to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Connie Schultz, Brown had opened up a lead of 7 to 10 points in polls taken before the first presidential debate.

Mandel was elected to his first statewide office in 2010 after stints as a student body president at Ohio State University, Clevelandarea city councilman and state legislator.

He has shared polling with donors showing dedicated voters are in his corner.

Mandel touts his fiscal conservatism and support for Washington reforms such as salary restraint and term limits.

“When you look in the dictionary under ‘career politician,’ you see a picture of Sherrod Brown,” said Mandel, who is 35. Brown is 59.

——— Associated Press writer Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

COLUMBUS — Ohio voters next month will decide whether the state should move forward with a proposal to change the process for redrawing its political districts.

Debate over Issue 2 has been contentious. It proposes a 12-member commission of state residents to re-draw Ohio’s legislative and congressional maps every 10 years.

Currently, the state Legislature draws the U.S. House districts, and the five-member state apportionment board draws legislative districts. The governor, secretary of state, auditor and two legislative appointees make up the apportionment board.

There’s broad agreement that Ohio’s system needs repair, but considerable disagreement about whether Issue 2 offers the right fix.

Voters First, which supports the plan, argues that there’s too much self-interest in the current process.

“This is a very simple plan. It ends the corrupt system we have today that lets politicians design their own districts,” said Sandy Theis, a spokeswoman for the laborbacked coalition. “It will take that power away from them and give it to an independent citizens’ commission that would have to do all its business in public.”

The first nine members of the commission would be selected by lottery from 42 applicants placed into Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated pools by a panel of appeals court judges. The first nine memSee ISSUES, Page 9

MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012 • 9

Trio of justices running for Ohio Supreme Court seats

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS AP Legal Affairs Writer

COLUMBUS — Two Ohio Supreme Court veterans and one newcomer who is also the court’s lone Democrat are up for election in November.

The races for the most part have been quiet affairs, far from the vicious campaigns of a decade ago when business interests sought to change the political makeup of the court.

Republicans now control the court 6-1.

The court rules on issues that affect many aspects of daily life in Ohio, such as the way criminal laws are enforced, schools are funded, damages from lawsuits awarded and custody issues worked out.

In one race, Justice Terrence O’Donnell of Cleveland, a Republican who joined the court in 2003, faces suburban Cleveland Democrat and state Sen. Mike Skindell.

In a second, Justice Robert Cupp of Lima, a Republican first elected to the court in 2006, faces Democrat William O’Neill, a

retired appeals court judge who now works as a registered nurse in Cleveland.

Justice Yvette Magee Brown of Columbus, a Democrat appointed in 2010 to fill a vacancy left when Maureen O’Connor became chief justice, faces Republican Sharon O’Donnell Kennedy, a Butler County domestic relations judge.

The winner of the Brown-Kennedy race would need to run again in two years for a full six-year term.

The only substantive issue in this year’s race comes from criticism O’Neill has made of O’Donnell and Cupp over the Skindell potential influence of campaign contributions on their decisions. He has questioned a combined $44,000 in contribu-

it. Johnson said the bill, which was more than 1,000 pages long, was jammed through without a single Republican vote. Further, Johnson said the health care bill will hurt 36,000 seniors in the 6th District alone if it goes entirely into effect.

Johnson would like to see the health care bill repealed and reformed, keeping some parts about non-discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions and allowing those age 26 to remain on their parents health plan.

However, he would expand health savings accounts and create tort reform, which should allow doctors to spend more time with patients and less in the courtrooms.

Wilson, 69, of St. Clairsville, points out there were things in the bill he disagreed with also, but also believed it was a good first start.

He likes the idea of 31,000 children with preexisting conditions in the 6th District receiving health insurance and 116,000 seniors in the district, who he said now have affordable exams and healthcare. Additionally, Wilson said the bill saves area hospitals $49 million in bad debts.

“The thing you need to realize was that was the hardest vote I took,” Wilson said. “I prayed about it. I thought about it. I couldn’t vote for half the bill.”

One of the arguments Wilson and John-

Instead, a separate campaign committee solicits donations.

“I’ve not found any TV or radio outlets or newspapers in this state who are willing to run advertisements for candidates without charging them,” Cupp said at the forum.

The Ohio State Bar AssoBrown ciation rated Brown and Cupp “highly recommended,” rated O’Donnell, O’Neill and Skindell as “recommended,” and rated Kennedy “not recommended.”

Asked for a comment, Kennedy said in a statement: “My 27 years of service from police officer to solo Kennedy practitioner to 14 years on the trial court bench has resonated with Ohio voters.”

ISSUES

CONGRESS Continued from Page 7

tions tied to Akron-based FirstEnergy this year that both have received during a time the utility had cases pending at the court.

“It’s impossible to avoid the appearance of impropriety when you accept money from a litigant and then rule on their case,” O’Neill said Cupp at a candidates’ forum in Columbus this month.

He stopped short of accusing either justice of wrongdoing.

O’Donnell said O’Neill failed to mention that a three-judge panel rejected a grievance O’Neill filed over the issue.

Cupp defended the need O’Neill for contributions, while noting that justices themselves are banned from directly seeking campaign contributions.

son’s campaigns seem to have is over which one of them wants to kill Medicare. Johnson claims Wilson’s support of The Affordable Care Act dips into Medicare to pay for the health care bill. Wilson criticizes Johnson’s support of Paul Ryan’s budget bill which Democrats are criticizing as killing Medicare.

Still both men believe Medicare needs to be adjusted for its survival.

Johnson said he co-sponsored a budget where seniors 55 and older will not see a change to their Medicare. He does not believe Medicare or Social Security to be entitlements, noting the seniors have paid into those programs. Johnson also said he sponsored a Social Security preservation act, a way to save Social Security which is heading toward bankruptcy.

Additionally, Wilson criticizes Johnson’s support of the Ryan budget, which he said cuts Pell Grants by 45 percent, making it harder for 10 million students to go to college. He also criticized the increase of interest rates for student loans from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.

When it comes to education, Johnson is critical of a system which instead of producing students excited about learning is turning education into a business. He said he agrees with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in his efforts to sit down with teachers and “empower” them to create better schools. djohnson@mojonews.com

Continued from Page 8

bers selected would pick the other three.

Protect Your Vote Ohio, the opposition campaign, says the lengthy constitutional amendment is rife with risky unknowns. It closely resembles a commission that California voters approved in 2010.

“While you have a process (in Ohio) now that’s accountable to taxpayers because it’s conducted by elected officials, voters would have no recourse in terms of holding these commissioners accountable or for repealing their decisions,” said spokesman Carlo LoParo.

Opponents believe unaffiliated commissioners would be particularly susceptible to political pressure at map-drawing time. The Ohio State Bar Association and Ohio Judicial Conference oppose the issue out of concern that appellate judges also would be vulnerable to political pressure.

Theis said the concern is misplaced.

“There have been dozens of the state’s top legal and constitutional scholars who signed an open letter that explained that OSBA’s concerns are totally misguided,” she said. “They’ve done a great disservice because they’ve entered the political arena and peddled inaccurate information.”

The feud between the two sides has carried over to the Ohio Elections Commission and the state Ballot Board, pitting its largely

Democratic backers against largely Republican opponents. Republicans have drawn Ohio’s U.S. House maps for 20 years, and its legislative maps for 30.

Opponents include the Ohio Republican Party, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Right to Life and state associations of CPAs, retail merchants, and farmers. Supporters include the League of Women Voters, ProgressOhio, Ohio Citizen Action, Planned Parenthood and the Ohio Council of Churches.

Another ballot issue, called Issue 1, asks voters whether they’d like to call a convention to “revise, alter, or amend” the Ohio Constitution. Such a convention would include discussion of redistricting and term limits and a cleanup of existing constitutional language, among other tasks.

The state’s governing document emerged from the state’s first constitutional convention in Chillicothe in 1802. It was revisited at conventions in 1851 and 1912.

Under state law, the question of a constitutional convention comes before voters every two decades. Four previous ballot issues calling for a convention have been rejected. There has been no significant support or opposition campaign this year.

The map-drawing and constitutional convention issues are on the Nov. 6 ballot.

10 • MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

SHERIFF Continued from Page 4

Submitted photo

Charlie Thomas (left) and Jimmy Custer fold laundry at the Hancock Laundry, operated by the Hancock County Sheltered Workshop, which has a bond levy up for renewal on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Renewal of Hancock County sheltered workshop levy sought

By STEPHEN HUBA Staff Writer

WEIRTON — Every day, the Hancock Laundry does hundreds of pounds of laundry for nursing homes, hospital, hotels and other businesses in three states.

The laundry employs 80 people with disabilities and is operated by the Hancock County Sheltered Workshop, the non-profit agency that serves people with mental and physical handicaps in Hancock County.

Were it not for the bond levy that voters renew every four years, the Workshop would have a difficult time getting those employees to the laundry. Workshop Executive Director Michael B. Hagg said the levy, which generates about $250,000 a year, helps cover the cost of transporting disabled individuals to the laundry.

“It’s a significant part of our budget,” Hagg said. “Most of our clients are not able to provide transportation for themselves. If we didn’t provide it, they wouldn’t be able to attend. ... The levy goes a long way in providing those services.”

The Workshop has five vans, with another on the way, and it provides one staff person for every two clients. “We provide a very safe and well-staffed environment,” Hagg said.

On Nov. 6, Hancock County voters will once again have the chance to renew the Sheltered Workshop levy. By law, the levy must pass by 61 percent, and in the past, it’s passed by as much as 68 percent.

“The residents of our county have always been tremendous in supporting our levy,” Hagg said, noting that the levy involves no new taxes.

Hagg said the levy covers about 10 percent of the Workshop’s annual $2.5 million budget. Most of the Workshop’s budget comes from reimbursements through the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, he said.

The Workshop makes some money from the laundry service, but most of the fees cover payroll, utilities and operating expenses, including the cost of maintaining and fueling seven trucks, Hagg said. Laundry personnel go as far as Beckley and Huntington to pick up laundry, he said.

Even though the Hancock Laundry does almost 3 million pounds of laundry a year, it’s main purpose is to provide employment for people with disabilities in Hancock County, Hagg said. Clients include people with autism, physical handicaps, multiple handicaps, traumatic brain injury and mental illness.

The Workshop also provides social activities for clients, pre-employment training, life skills training and vocational training in other fields. It also provides job referrals and job placement for clients, Hagg said.

The Workshop has custodial contracts in Hanock County and the Pittsburgh area that employ seven people, he said.

him from trying. He believes having a school resource officer in the Leetonia Schools was good for dealing with some of the issues at the school.

Soldano also criticizes Stone for retiring and “double dipping.” Stone responds if he lost the election he would have been just four months short of receiving his retirement, under changes being made to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The years are being increased from 30 to 32. He would have only 31. Stone notes he knows it is not popular, but lists several other county employees who also did a similar retire and rehire.

Stone also said the retirement costs the county nothing. Instead of paying 18.1 percent, the county now only pays 14 percent toward his retirement. However, Stone said he did not do it to save the county 4.1 percent, either.

“I did it to protect my financial future,” Stone said.

Soldano also has other criticism of the sheriff, such as the way the department is being handled and the grievances being filed.

“I firmly believe our current sheriff is a good man,” Soldano said. “He’s a nice man.

He’s a good man. He’s not a good sheriff.”

He is quick to point out the morale problem at the sheriff’s department, employees who are unhappy with the changes which have been made. Soldano said “it is time to rally the troops and get the men to enjoy their jobs again.” He believes a happier department would be more productive.

He believes there is a priority issue with the sheriff’s department. While Soldano said there are currently 30 unsolved murders and 100-plus unsolved sex crimes, he claims the sheriff is out running radar when he should be addressing the cases. Instead on a slow day, Soldano said he would be getting the detectives together to start looking back through those files, following up on new information or new leads.

Stone responds that he has a lead suspect on nearly all of the murders in the county. In one case, Stone said the suspect even admitted to it, but implied the case has never been prosecuted. He added a detective to the department during his time in office and said the detectives have been working hard on these cases. For some cases he gave examples of how things may have been mishandled, but those were before his time in the department.

Soldano criticizes the way the 911 center is being handled at the sheriff’s department, which also dispatches for several local fire departments and some local police.

“I can’t tell you one fire department happy with the way it is being handled,” Soldano said.

Of the five 911 centers in the county, Soldano said East Palestine’s is the best handled. However, he said there was a case with the county 911 where an outside ambulance company was called for a heart attack victim located right across from the local fire station. Soldano said he believes the complaints by the fire chiefs are legitimate, and the issues need addressed.

“I think it’s the way they are being instructed to handle them,” Soldano said of the problem, adding he heard the chief deputy said they would call who they want to call.

Additionally, Soldano believes calls from the public regarding burglaries and thefts need to be handled by a deputy who goes out to the location, not over the phone. He said there are cases going unsolved because no one investigates them. At the same time, Soldano said trustees in Knox Township tell him they never see a cruiser.

“We need to do a better job,” Soldano said. “Make sure your deputies go out and put the effort forward and try. You’re not going to solve them all.”

He also points out the sheriff and his department have been running radar in the Salineville area, near the Southern Local Schools and on state Route 11. Soldano said the job could have been handled by the highway patrol. He had a highway patrol cruiser watching the school zone in Leetonia when the school cut busing for students in the village.

“Salineville knows the sheriff is busy,” Soldano said. “It’s political.”

Stone said he was helping out in Salineville when the village’s police department quit. There was no one to patrol the streets, and the village wanted a police presence until they could hire a new chief and department.

“I took an oath of office to uphold all the laws,” Stone said, “From murder down to speeding tickets. If I see a violation, I’m not turning my head.” djohnson@mojonews.com

MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012 • 11

Minerva schools seek tax renewal

COMMISSIONER Continued from Page 2

existing economic development organizations.

“It’s just a matter of everyone working together and coordinating efforts ...

The big challenge will be whether we can take advantage of this burgeoning energy (boom). This could be our renaissance,” he said.

Payne In regard to commissioners sharing casino tax money with communities in the county, Payne believes it is premature to have that discussion, since they really have no idea how much they can afford to part with at this time. The county has only received one check from the state.

“If the income doesn’t come in on this gambling, you can’t give out what you don’t have,” he said.

There could come a time Wargo when commissioners determine there is sufficient gambling money coming in that some of it could be shared with communities, but this is a decision that would have to be made annually.

“The bottom line is I believe once county expenses are met I have no problem sharing that,” Payne said.

If that were to occur, he said the money could be distributed based on population similar to the distribution of state Local Government Fund money, or they could create a Weigle pool of money and have communities submit an application saying how the money is to be spent. In this way it would resemble how commissioners share the county’s annual allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant money.

Payne also wants commissioners to act now in naming a new county Emergency Management Agency director, which is why he suggested they name the person recommended by the interview committee. He said he is satisfied with the person recommended for the job.

Wargo, 74, has a career in public office that dates back nearly 50 years, starting as a Franklin Township trustee and then a stint as county recorder. He served as state representative for the county from 1971-1982, and as commissioner for 12 years after that, retiring in 1996.

Wargo is miffed the Democratic Party chose

Payne over him to fill the Traina vacancy.

“I broke ground for a lot of these guys.

When I asked for that one-year appointment there was absolutely no consideration ... That’s the only time I asked the party for anything,” he said.

Having said that, Wargo said he decided to run for the full-term as an independent instead of as a Democrat, not to be the spoiler, but because he loves to be active and believes he can still contribute.

“I didn’t do it to get even with the party. I kind of felt I have as much right as they have (to run for commissioner). Now the public will have a voice in this,” he said.

Wargo said he has numerous accomplishments over his 30-plus years as a public official, but he is most proud of the role he played in landing the federal prison and the 600 jobs that came with it; obtaining money for the Kent State University branches in East Liverpool and Salem; and co-sponsoring Ohio’s first bill requiring strip mines be reclaimed.

He said a side benefit of getting the federal prison was construction of the sewage treatment plant in Elkton that also serves Lisbon, although village officials were angry since the plant was forced on them. “I knew it was the right thing to do,” he said.

If elected, Wargo said he intends to work on getting the U.S. Route 30 realignment project moving and would like to do something about the county’s drug problem.

As for commissioners sharing casino tax revenue, Wargo said the county has major needs that need to be addressed before you can even have that discussion. “I don’t think you have enough money to spread around to the townships and everyone,” he said.

Weigle, 60, has served as a Unity Township trustee for 22 years and is currently a county Port Authority board member, having been appointed last year. He has worked in the construction/heavy equipment business all of his life, and for Ohio Caterpillar in Youngstown since 2001. During that time he has worked as regional product support manager and is currently the branch manager of the Youngstown location.

“I’m just going to bring a business mind set to the board, and I think that’s what the county needs,” he said.

Weigle said he had contemplated running for commissioner in 2010 but stood aside after learning fellow Republican Mike Halleck wanted to do so. “I felt the door opened up (with Traina’s decision to leave) and there was an opportunity for me to run for commissioner,” he said.

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN Staff Writer

MINERVA — An operating tax levy first passed in 1993 for the Minerva Local School District is up for renewal and Superintendent Joseph Chaddock hopes residents keep it going.

The 5.1-mill levy generates $1.1 million a year for the district and its passage will result in no tax increase for residents. The funding goes toward the operations of the district, including paying employee salaries, the purchase of textbooks and materials and supplies.

“The district has not passed an operating issue since 1993. This is what we survive on,” Chaddock said.

He stressed that since the tax is a renewal the district will “not receive $1 more” One of his goals if elected would be to ensure the shale gas boom is managed in a way to protect the public’s health and safety. “These folks are going to be in our county for the next five to seven years. There’s probably going to be a lot of drilling and truck traffic. We need to operate as safely as we can and as healthy as we can,” Weigle said.

As a trustee, Weigle said he has already been dealing with drilling companies about maintaining township roads being used, and he would put that experience to work as commissioner.

Weigle is also a member of a township association committee that has begun meeting with drilling companies to discuss issues and would like to see commissioners begin doing the same.

At the very least, Weigle said he would like for drilling companies to provide the name and number of a contact person for each site, which could be passed on to safety personnel. Getting that information as a trustee has been difficult.

In addition to addressing the drilling situation, Weigle said he would work with the sheriff and county Drug Task Force on increasing efforts to combat the county’s drug problem.

“The sheriff’s office has been run on a shoestring budget for a long time, and I think its time we get these folks a little bit more money so they can put more deputies on the road,” he said.

Weigle has some ideas about economic development, saying they need to bring the chamber of commerces together and have the port authority begin working with them more closely.

“We need to get our heads together to devel-

than when it was first passed.

The renewal is for 10 years and will help the district cope with “massive” state funding cuts, he said.

Over the past year the district reduced staff, programs, and increased class sizes to offset the losses. The teaching and nonteaching unions also agreed to pay and step freezes and putting more toward their health insurance as a result of the cuts.

“This renewal levy is critical to our district’s continued success as we have not received additional local operating money for 19 years … We appreciate everyone’s continued support for our schools,” he said.

The district recently received a rating of Excellent with Distinction from the Ohio Department of Education. It is the highest rating given by the state. kschwendeman@mojonews.com

op a plan to capitalize some of the businesses coming into the county. Right now, I think everyone is doing their own thing, and we’re just not working together,” he said.

In regard to sharing casino tax money, Weigle is not necessarily opposed to doing that, but, if so, he would favor putting some of the money into a pot and communities could apply for the money similar to how commissioners run the CDBG program.

“I would like to be able to help a township if they had a special project they wanted to do, and they were willing to put funding toward the project,” he said. “Just giving the townships money like we do with LGF money, I’m not sure that would be the wisest thing to do.”

Weigle said the county has shared what it can with communities, whether it be commissioners and the CDBG money or the engineer’s office using its crews to resurface roads if the village and townships purchase the materials.

He pointed out the townships also receive free legal services from the county prosecutor’s office.

“I sometimes think the trustees don’t stop and think that we do get some things from the county we are fortunate to get,” Weigle said.

As for the appointing a new EMA director, Weigle understands the interview committee was made up of professionals, but he believes commissioners should have at least sat in on the interviews for the finalists.

“I’d had some questions I would like to ask.

Commissioners should have been there,” he said.

Commissioners are paid $65,620.

12 • MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

TREASURER Continued from Page 3

uation has to be looked at on an individual basis,” she said. “It’s a tedious, tedious job, and so you have to look at cost versus benefit ... The issue may not be worth pursuing.”

Gearhart said those who can pay should be made to do so. “I know it’s hard times for a lot of people, but all of us have to budget accordingly. So whether you enter into a payment plan or something, the debt just doesn’t go away,” she said, adding the money is needed by the school districts, cities, townships and villages that rely on the revenue.

Real estate tax delinquencies total $8.5 million. “That seems like a lot of money to me, and much of it goes back a lot of years,” Gearhart said, adding she will research the issue and come up with a plan after taking office.

Bolon said she will draw on her four years’

experience as a legislator to lobby for changes that would allow treasurers to operate more efficiently and better serve the public.

As trustee, Gearhart said she helped obtain new health insurance coverage that saved the township $18,000 and instituted a first-ever perBolon sonnel policy. She said they also had to lay off an employee.

“It was a tough decision, but when you only have a certain amount of dollars, you have to call it as you see it,” she said.

Gearhart decided to run for trustee because she did not want to be one of those people who complains about problems without trying to do something. “I’m not one to sit around

the table and talk about what should be done and then not be willing to do something about it,” she said.

Prior to first being elected trustee three years ago, Gearhart and her husband operated the county airport for 23 years, where she also served as clerk-treasurer of Gearhart the airport authority board.

They sold the business in 2004 after her husband, Jerry, became ill and later died.

Gearhart also worked as a flight attendant from 2000 to 2008, and before that as a credit manager for the former Hall China Co. in East Liverpool and assistant controller for the Li’l Shopper chain of convenience stores.

Gearhart said she has never been afraid to

pitch in and do what is necessary to get the job done, and she would take the same approach if elected “because I look at the treasurer’s job as being mostly a worker bee.”

Bolon is a bit sensitive about the charge she might be a “career politician,” but she views her experience as a plus rather than a negative.

“I’m proud of my political resume .... Do I think I have helped make this county a better place and given people a better future? I think I have,” she said, Gearhart said she has no intention of climbing the political ladder beyond being treasurer. “Sometimes you need a fresh outlook, someone who is here to do the job and not looking to build a staircase,” she said.

The treasurer’s job pays $61,247.

“The public employees ended up looking like they were picked on. I don’t think that was intentional,” he said.

The legislation was later repealed by referendum vote.

Barborak said the bill was “completely lopsided.”

“It leaves all the cards in the hands of the employer, and that is not bargaining. You need to give everybody a seat at the table,” he said.

The candidates also differ on the matter of consumer sales practices and prison sentencing.

Barborak said the bills co-sponsored by Newbold are a “mistake” and allow for punishment for misbehavior to be “taken off the table.”

He said the bill geared toward easing up the prison population “literally sends heroin pushers back out on the streets.”

The bill allows for low-level offenders to be placed in halfway houses or communitybased correction facilities in lieu of prison.

“I wouldn’t have voted for it. I would not have allowed for a presumption of probation,” Barborak said.

He added that while he understands why Newbold voted the way he did with regards to abortion (the Republican is pro-life), he believes it should “never be used as a form of birth control,” but should be an option for lifeor-death or rape cases.

“We need to streamline adoption and reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy,” he said.

Both candidates agree the oil and gas

industry will be profitable for the county.

Barborak would like to see a minimum royalty law in the state and believes it would keep landowners, such as those who own property in the Brinker Storage Field, from being “bamboozled” out of a profitable lease agreement.

He said the minimum royalty should be tied to drilling permits, however.

With regards to surface drilling in state parks, he wants local people to have a say.

“I think Rep. Newbold has said he opposed surface drilling, but the bill he voted for allowed it,” he said.

Newbold has attended meetings in the county to hear residents and local officials’ concerns about drilling in Beaver Creek State Park. Whether drilling will actually take place there, through horizontal means or on the surface, has not been decided at this point.

Newbold believes the oil and gas activity will be a great source of revenue for the county — if the proper plan is in place. He said residents need to take advantage of the potential jobs created by the shale gas boom, and local vocational schools already offer welding programs, but they are “maxed out.”

“I think we should be preparing ourselves for those things,” he said.

He is against sharing the wealth across the state, as Gov. John Kasich has proposed.

“When they first introduced it at caucus I was very vocal that other counties weren’t sharing their wealth. It should be reinvested back into our county,” he said.

Some wealth, not necessarily related to the

oil and gas industry, was kept in the county through the passage of the estate tax, he noted.

“Right after we passed that bill I had a few wealthy citizens call me and say ‘Thankyou.’” The bill made a way for the citizens to remain in the county instead of moving out of state to retire, he said.

Barborak said keeping and attracting profitable business locally could be done through tax credits targeted toward those willing to create jobs, but only on the stipulation that if no job creation occurs, the credits be given back.

“The No. 1 issue is jobs and loss of jobs,” he said. “(We fix that) by having good roads, schools and access to high-speed Internet.”

According to Newbold, the state is making strides in job creation under Republican leadership and is currently listed as the No. 1 job creation state in the Midwest.

He also believes the state would benefit from less government control.

“The whole government-public pyramid has gotten flipped upside down. I think we as a people need to stand up and take control of the government at all levels,” he said.

He added that shrinking the size of government would save money through less money being spent on overhead.

“That would free up money we could use elsewhere. Paying state overhead doesn’t give you anything,” he said.

Both candidates said that if elected they would work toward eliminating partisanship.

“I’ve never believed that good ideas come from party labels,” Barborak said.

STATE REP Continued from Page 5

tem, and it needs to be addressed,” he said.

Newbold believes the education system is outdated and needs to be “rebuilt.”

“We are falling behind nationally in math and sciences … It penalizes our kids when they enter the job market,” he said.

Improving the system would happen through the incorporation of blended learning concepts and less state control, Newbold said.

Blended learning is a combination of brick and mortar learning and online schooling.

Less state control would allow school districts to meet their own needs and experiment with curriculum, he added.

“Each school’s needs are different. One size doesn’t fit all,” he said, adding that less control wouldn’t necessarily mean less state funding.

As for how the budget cuts affected school districts, he said the state legislature made the “best choices they could” by the deadline. He also said that while balancing the budget did “cause pain” it positioned the state to be more economically competitive.

He believes a “tremendous amount of money” could be saved through the consolidation of schools and their administration. He voted for Senate Bill 5, the legislation to limit collective bargaining among government employees, because he would like to see teachers who aren’t doing their job properly paid accordingly and better teachers rewarded.

Although he didn’t agree with everything SB5 contained or how it was presented, he said he approved because it was a means of balancing the budget.

kschwendeman@mojonews.com

MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012 • 13

CHALLENGE Continued from Page 3

position by the interview committee.

“They weren’t totally satisfied with them either,” Hoppel said of the interview committee, but the committee felt obligated to offer the three best names from among those who applied.

“People are trying to make this political when it is not. We stayed out of the selection ...

We had four professional people interview them,” he added.

Csonka, 73, believes he has the right mix of private-public sector business experience, noting he worked for years as a pipe fitter before starting his own plumbing business, which he operated “until my shoulders and knees gave out.”

He then took a job at the county health department, serving as plumbing inspector until his retirement this year. Csonka has been a trustee since 2004.

Csonka was asked to run by the Democratic Party after having been approached in the past, but now the time was right with his retirement.

“My kids told me you’re always complaining and you always wanted to try,” he said.

Csonka said every politician talks about creating jobs, but the key is being in a position to provide water and sewer service. As trustee, he was frustrated when the Pleasant View Nursing Home relocated from the township to outside East Palestine after being unable to tap into a nearby Salem water line that serviced the federal prison. He said although the county was involved in the project, they turned control of the line over to Salem, which was a mistake, and the city required annexation in exchange for any residents or business tapping into the line.

“I thought they dropped the ball on that,” he said of commissioners.

In a situation like that, Csonka said he would do whatever it takes to obtain water service rather than lose a business under similar circumstances, especially if the business was relocating outside the county. He blamed politics for the loss of the nursing home.

Csonka said his election as commissioners would provide a board member with extensive construction experience, which would be a benefit whenever they take on a construction project.

For example, construction of the new government services building included cast iron pipe for the first and second floor plumbing when PVC plumbing would have sufficed.

“I’m not saying commissioners should have caught this,” but using PVC would have saved $30,000, he said, adding they also need to take

a better look at the work history of the contractors they select.

Csonka was also critical of any plans by commissioners to demolish the old Job and Family Services building and had lobbied for renovating the building instead of constructing a new government services building.

“The building can be saved, the structure is sound,” he said.

Csonka believes the mold could be eliminated and the building renovated for office space for oil and gas companies working in the area.

“They’re all these people coming here, and they need office space. You could patch up that building and make it usable ... Think of the money you would bring into town,” he said.

“I’m not sure it would work, but I think that’s a more progressive idea than just tearing it down.”

Csonka is also advocating commissioners share some of their casino tax revenue with cities, villages and townships, because they are hurting too. He suggested commissioners use the same distribution formula used for state Local Government Fund money, which is based largely on population.

“I can’t see why they don’t think that is a good idea,” he said.

Csonka also disputes Hoppel’s contention there are no qualified candidates for the EMA director position and that they should seek new applicants. Csonka supports a man he worked with at the health department — Bob Zehentbauer, the public health emergency preparedness coordinator.

Zehentbauer was not among the finalist recommended for the job, and Csonka denied he was being political when he criticized commissioners for dragging their feet on making the appointment.

“If I’m a county commissioner, I’m going to pick the best person for every job,” and Zehentbauer is the best candidate, he said.

Csonka was critical of Hoppel’s past opposition to imposition of the 1 percent county sales tax. Hoppel said he believed the voters should have a say on the tax. “If you know you need the money to run the county, the people elected you to make that decision,” Csonka said, adding the county obviously needed the tax revenue to operate.

“What Hoppel said is, ‘Let the people decide’ ... What I think he was saying is ‘I want to get voted back in,’” Csonka said. “If you need that to run the county I wouldn’t let the county go broke.”

The commissioner position pays $65,620.

W ith four decades of privatesector experien cean d six term s as a tow n ship trustee,Tim W eiglehas theright experien ceto attract jobs an d createopportun ity for our county.

L ifelon g residen t of th e cou n ty

Tim W eigle and his w ife,D eborah,have lived in U nity Tow nship for 39 years.They raised their dau ghter,Lau rie,here,and now she is bu ilding a life in E astPalestine,the sam e place w here Tim gradu ated from high school.Tim cares deeply abou t C olu m biana C ou nty.This is his hom e, his heritage,and itrepre-sents his and his fam ily’s fu tu re.

A tested an d proven com m u n ity leader

Tim has served as a U nity Tow nship tru stee for six consecu tive term s,a totalof23 years experience on the board.In addition,Tim is serving in his first year on the C olu m biana C ou nty Port A u thority Board and is the cu rrent vice presi-dent and chairm an of the C olu m biana C ou nty Tow nship A ssociation and the Tow nship Steering C om m ittee, respectively.

An experien ced job creator an d bu sin essm an

Tim has w orked 40 years in heavy constru ction,m ining,and the w aste indu s-try. Perhaps m ore im portantly, he has directly m anaged m u ltim illion dollar com panies for m ore than tw o decades. N o other candidate has created jobs,m anaged bu dgets and led personnelon the scale ofTim W eigle.It’s ju stthe experience w e need to getC olu m biana C ou nty m oving in the rightdirection.

Iam d ed icated to m ovin g ou r cou n ty forw ard by takin g a com m on sen se,bu sin ess approach to m an agin g ou r govern m en t.I w ou ld be hon ored an d d eeply hu m bled to serve a s you r choice for C ou n ty C om m ission er.

Iw ou ld appreciate you r vote on N ov.6th. w w w .tim w eigleforcolu m bianacou ntycom m issioner.com

Paid forby Tim W eigleforC olum biana C ounty C om m issioner,D eb W eigle,Treasurer49498 E ngland D rive,E astPalestine,O hio 44413.

14 • MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

Middleton hopes to replace levy FLOOD WALL

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN Staff Writer

NEGLEY — Middleton Township residents are being asked to approve a 2-mill road replacement levy on Nov. 6.

The five-year levy is expected to generate $111,700 a year. Trustees decided this summer to seek the replacement over a renewal because of state funding cuts and an increase in property values.

The current 2-mill levy expires next year and generates $73,500 annually. The township has collected on the levy since the mid1990s, when it was first put before voters.

Fiscal Officer Bob Chapman said previously the township isn’t collecting on the current full 2-mills as a result of an increase in property values. The township is not allowed to collect more than what the property values were estimated at when the levy was renewed four years ago. The township

is currently collecting 1.26 mills on residential and 1.40 mills on commercial property.

Trustees said the replacement would not be not a new levy, but would allow the township to collect the full 2-mills, which they believe is necessary in order to maintain township roads.

Under the replacement levy the owner of a $50,000 home would see an increase of $11.32 a year over what they are currently paying. If approved, the levy will take effect next year and last through 2017.

Trustees said collecting on the 2-mills is needed since the township is looking to lose $10,825 in state funding to local governments next year. The LGF cuts were included in the two-year state budget adopted last year. The township received little more than $64,000 in the funding in 2011, but after cuts will only receive $35,000 in 2013. kschwendeman@mojonews.com

East Liverpool seeks road levy again

By JO ANN BOBBY-GILBERT Staff Writer

EAST LIVERPOOL — Without passage of a 5-mill street levy on the Nov. 6 ballot, the city has little hope of continuing its recent momentum in street maintenance with repairs to neighborhood streets.

The levy, which would run for five years, would generate an estimated $425,300 annually that can only be used for construction, repair, resurfacing and maintenance of streets and bridges.

A similar levy was defeated by just two votes in the March primary election, but city officials hope voters may be encouraged by the great strides made during the past few months on improving some of its major thoroughfares, including Lisbon Street, Bradshaw Avenue, St. Clair Avenue, McKinnon Street, Maine Boulevard and others.

Also resurfaced within the past two years has been Pennsylvania Avenue and state Route 39.

However, officials have emphasized that projects such as those are funded, in large part, by state and federal monies, while no such money is available to repair or resurface neighborhood streets, many of which are in dire need of such attention.

Street committee Chairman Scott Barrett

recently said the street department, under the direction of deputy Service-Safety Director Dan Galeoti, has altered methods for patching streets, providing longer lasting patches.

He also has said he fears opportunities for the city will be lost if the levy isn’t passed so major improvements can be made to neighborhood streets.

Officials have heard concerns that, if the levy is passed, its funds will be used for other purposes, including the purchase of land, but that is prohibited by law, with levy funds only permitted to be used for the purpose for which it was earmarked, in this case street repairs and maintenance.

City Auditor Kim Woomer has offered to provide reports showing how the levy money is spent, as she has done in the past with other levies.

If passed, the levy would cost the owner of a $40,000 home an additional $61.25 per year in taxes; a $50,000 home, $76.56; $70,000, 107.19; $90,000, 137.81; and $100,000, an additional 153.13 annually.

Barrett has pointed out that passing the levy would cost home owners less per year than a typical vehicle tire or repair. jgilbert@mojonews.com

Continued from Page 5

In fact, between the floodwall itself and stretches of earthen levy, it runs the entire length of the village facing the Ohio River. The good news is that the floodwall itself is structurally sound and in good condition, Smith says. Short of some tree stumps that need removed, along with some ruts and holes that need patched at its base, the levies are in good shape also.

The other main element of the system, the two pump stations that handle hillside runoff and other storm water collection inside the floodwall, isn’t fairing so well.

Out of six total pumps, only one is still functional, Smith says. The pumps date back to the original completion of the flood control system in 1940 and are becoming increasingly difficult to find replacement parts for. Smith says the situation holds serious consequences

should Wellsville be flooded in the future, beyond the obvious concern of having only a single, 72-year-old pump in the system.

The lack of a fully-functional flood control system means the village is outside of compliance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Smith says that if a catastrophic flood would occur, FEMA would still be there to provide immediate disaster relief for village residents. They would not assist with reconstruction costs, however. In the meantime, Smith says residents could face greatly increased homeowners’ coverage costs.

“Everybody’s insurance would go sky-high,” he said.

That leaves the residents of Wellsville with a simple choice, according to Smith. “You spend the money on the system, or you give it to your insurance agent,” he said.

RECORDER Continued from Page 2

She considers being able to work well with others one of her strongest attributes. “I play well with others. I understand my ego shouldn’t be so big that I’m unable to come to the table and work with whoever is on the other side,” Bosel said.

As far as addressing the backlog of leases needing to be recorded, Bosel acknowledged Brown has taken several steps in an attempt to address the problem by placing certain records online and digitalizing others.

“If it’s a good idea and going to save the taxpayers of Columbiana County money, I’m open to all ideas,” she said.

Bosel indicated she also intends to be a “working recorder” in the sense she will pitch in to help the staff with their duties, despite a union contract that prohibits management from performing work that is to be done by rankand-file employees.

She said it was county Commissioner Mike Halleck who approached her about running for the job, and, after much thought, she agreed.

“Make no mistake I am my own person. I’m nobody’s puppet, and the people in my party have been made aware of that, and they’re comfortable with that,” Bosel said.

Myers also plans to meet with staff to seek their input on possible improvements, especially on how to deal with the gas-related title searchers.

“I will fix what needs to be fixed in there and restore some professionalism in there and employee confidence and pride in what they do,” she said.

A genealogy buff, Myers said “to me those records are the history of our county sitting in

those books, and that has to be taken care of.

There has to be a stewardship of those records.”

Like Bosel, Myers also intends to be a working recorder. “I will be at work everyday.

That is paramount,” she said.

Upon taking office, Myers would do an inventory of all records to ensure all are accounted for because of the title search activity and relocation of some records to another building to alleviate overcrowding at the courthouse.

“I need to know that everything is as it should be, that we haven’t lost anything in the move, nothing has been destroyed, and that the employees can find those records when they need to,” she said.

Myers would also work to secure an appropriate level of funding, “and that means working with commissioners, the auditor, and everyone else in the courthouse.”

In addition to seeking suggestions from staff, she intends to review all of the equipment and software leases to determine if they are getting the best deal.

Myers believes her varied business experience makes her the better choice for the job, noting all of her jobs have required her to maintain various records in a proper manner.

When asked if she had been approached by the Democratic Party to run for recorder, Myers said she had been thinking about it because of all of the turmoil. “I thought it was just the right thing to do” to restore integrity to the office, she said.

The recorder position pays $57,232.

MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012 • 15

CRAIG NEWBOLD for State Representative

Thank you for the honor ofserving the people ofC olum biana C ounty for the last two years in C olum bus.I was born and grew up here in the C ounty, attending Beaver Local High School and spending tim e at m y Dad’s gas station in E ast Liverpool. I A M one ofyou and the experiences,values and faith thatI lived and observed growing up here gave m e the strong foundation that I used to ultim ately experience the A m erican dream .

Istarted m y career in 1968 with no m oney buta determ ination to succeed.Ientered the workforce as an em ployee in the field of com puters in that year,and through hard work and the Lord’s blessings was very successful. In 1990 I took the calculated risk ofstarting m y own business, justthe sam e as m any of you who have started or wanted to start a bu siness. That is why it is always in m y m ind and heart to help sm all businesses grow and thrive,and to never forget that is how jobs are created.

Governm ent can’t create jobs, only peoplecan do that.I have in the past, an d w ill in the future,do allI can to supportbusiness and m akeiteasier for them to function and expand.Thatis a centralpartofm y jobs plan.

Rather than retire,Ireturned hom e to C olum biana C ounty to share the blessings,and the lesson s learned,with those whose opportunities didn’tm atch m y own.Iinvested in localprojects and businesses.To date som e of m y m ajor endeavors have been: - Starting N ewLife TechnicalIn stitute,a nonprofit schoolto providetechnology training to peoplewho would typically not havea career opportunity ofthis nature.

-Starting Soaring E agle,Inc.to providecareer opportunities to graduates.

- Helping support 16 other C olum biana C ounty businesses, entirely unrelated to m e personally, through the Laus Deo Foundation, with a $499,000 grant from the U SDA plus m atching funds from m y wifeand I. Im ention the above notto boastbutto setthe record straight

and let you know the truth.I cam e from the E ast Liverpool area,with no specialadvantages,and Iworked hard to build a com pany and in theprocess,yes,Iearned a good living.There is no sham e in any of that. Since returning to C olum biana C ounty,m y wife and I have provided a greatdealofm oney and other supportto ventures IN THIS C OU N TY.There have been no positivefinancialreturn s,butwhatwehavegained by investing in helping others’find hopeand opportunity in their lives has been reward enough.It allhas supported m y core personalbeliefin this C ountry,and in this C ounty,and in the good peoplewho liveand work here!

Over the last two years as your State Representative I have continued to m ake decision s that I believe are in our best interests and provide leadership for Ohio’s com eback.A m ong thoseare: -Supporting tax cuts and reducing red tape thatinhibits new businesses starting -C utting governm entspending to address the $8 billion deficit leftby theDem ocraticadm inistration in controlofOhio 20082009. This irrespon sible deficit required painful decision s im pacting schools, social program s and other im portant program s.

- Reducing regulation s on job creators to allow Ohioian s to return to work.

- Facilitating respon sible energy developm ent in Ohio by Ohioan s Iam asking for your voteto return m eto theStateLegislature.I hope you agree we have m ade som e significant gain s in returning Ohio to prosperity and them om entum is now in our favor to continue to grow Ohio,and our C ounty in particular.

Still,we have m uch to do and I am wellaware ofthat.M y objectives for thenexttwo years include: -Focusing on thechildren ofOhio and their education.Ohio’s PK-12 educationalresults continueto rank in thebottom ofthe states and m ustbeim proved for our children’s future.W eneed to holistically review and rebuild our schools including curriculum and student expectation s. W hile we argue over schoolturf,our students need better program s,technology and the right to enter any classroom knowing their teacher will increasetheir knowledgeas wellas havetheability to providea safeand nurturing environm entfor learning. W ealso need to con sider and utilize new educationalconcepts on a pilotbasis for evaluation m uch as C leveland is doing.

- Reducing the size of state governm ent significantly by elim inating unnecessary program s and returning m any others to localcontrolalong with thefunding to m anagethem .

-Privatize governm entprogram s where possible in a m anner that concurrently utilizes the privatization process to spur

private econom ic developm ent in other areas of the state besides C olum bus,C leveland and C incinnati.

-Lowering taxes through reduced governm entcosts as wellas additionalrevenuefrom shale.

-A s an agricultural state we also need to fin d ways to help ou r hard working farm ers prosper.

- Jobs, jobs, jobs!

The bottom line continu es to be keeping our current em ployers here, attracting n ew e m p lo y e r s especially around shale oil an d related industries that m ay follow, and to have higher paying jobs readily available to entice people to return to Ohio thathave already left.

Ihope this gives you an idea ofwhatIintend to accom plish if you return m e to C olum bu s. I have been a m an from C o lu m b i a n a C ounty,Ohio allm y life, an d a businessm an for 44 years, but I have on ly been a politician for two years. I think we can all agree, we don ’t n eed m ore career politician s, buttherehas been a m o m e n tu m bu ildin g that c o n s i s te n t representation can takeadvantageofto help C olum biana C ounty,and Iwantto go back to work for you to keep the progress going. Ibelieve as a businessm an and a localm an, Ican be a Representative that serves everyone.Iask for your support,prayers and your vote.

Thank you.

Craig Newbold

N ew b old for O h io -2012 O rgan ization alE n dorsem en ts an d Aw ards

W e w an t to exten d ou r appreciation an d th an ks to th e follow in g organ ization s for th eir en dorsem en ts of m y can didacy for election to m y 2n d term in th e O h io H ou se of Represen tatives: -

Aw ards

E N D ORSE M E N TS

- O h io Restau ran t Association - N ation alRifle Association - Grade A - O h io Righ t to L ife - O h io Ch am b er of Com m erce - O h io Society of CPA’s - O h io Farm Bu reau “2012 F rien d of Agricu ltu re” - O h io State M edicalAssociation - O h io ProL ife Action - Tech n ology Advocate L egislator of th e Year – 2011 from Tech n ology for O h io’s Tom orrow - W atch dog of th e Treasu ry -2012

Citizen s for Com m u n ity Valu es Bu ckeye F irearm s Association - Grade A N ation alFarm Bu reau N ation alF ederation of In depen den t Bu sin ess

Paid for by Newbold for Ohio, Rose Newbold, Treasurer, 101 E. 6th St., East Liverpool, Ohio 43920.

16 • MORNING JOURNAL • ELECTION 2012 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

St. Clair seeks fire levy renewal

Salineville levy would fund police

By JO ANN BOBBY-GILBERT Staff Writer

Staff Reports

SALINEVILLE — With numerous positive changes in the village police department in recent months, village officials are asking voters to approve a 3-mill, five-year police levy on Nov. 6.

Expected to generate $33,200 annually, the levy would cost the owner of a $40,000 home about $36 per year.

In recent months, the village police department has seen a complete change in personnel, including a new chief, retired Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Terry McElroy, who has under taken an overhaul of the department and implemented an open door policy, inviting residents to stop in or call with their concerns and questions.

Cost cutting measures that have been implemented include making all officers part-time.

Since McElroy’s hiring, numerous drug arrests have been made, and a spirit of cooperation has been forged between the village department, the county sheriff’s department, state patrol and other police departments, officials have reported.

Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer

“Uncle Sam” and her little dog, too, were on hand for Columbiana’s Fourth of July festivities, including a pet contest, in Firestone Park.

CALCUTTA — Voters in St. Clair Township are being asked on Nov. 6 to renew a 2.5-mill fire levy for five years, with no increase in taxes if it is approved.

The levy generates $216,500 annually and is used to fund operations in both the Calcutta and Glenmoor volunteer fire departments, which split the revenue evenly.

Calcutta Chief Scott Smith said his share of the levy funds total operations other than a .5-mill continuous levy that is used for utilities.

If voters renew the levy, Smith said plans call for maintaining the equipment already on hand as well as purchasing new equipment as needed.

Long-range goals include the possibility of buying a new aerial truck, which Smith said is a necessity with the township’s makeup of businesses, including the hotel and, in the next few years, the new Beaver Local Schools complex

which is expected to be built within township boundaries.

The department has sought and received grants for turn-out gear, air packs and extrication equipment, but Smith said grant funding is becoming scarce.

“Anytime there’s something out there with grants, we try to get them, but it’s harder to come by grants now.

His sentiments were echoed by Glenmoor Chief Matt Smith, who also said, “We do apply whenever we can, but it’s been pretty slim pickins’ lately.”

The levy, if approved, will be “put right back in our operating budget,” Smith said, saying the money is used to maintain equipment and provide services to the community.

With existing equipment aging, Smith said he hopes to replace some in the next couple of years.

Both fire chiefs emphasized that voting in favor of the levy will not increase taxes while allowing them to continue offering fire service to the township jgilbert@mojonews.com

Liverpool Township seeking additional police revenue

By JO ANN BOBBY-GILBERT Staff Writer

LACROFT — Voters in Liverpool Township are being asked Nov. 6 to support a 3-mill police levy that is a combination of an existing 1.5 mills and an additional 1.5 mills.

The new levy would be collected at current day valuation, rather than the 1990s valuation of the original 1.5 mills, generating about $151,300 annually for a variety of needs in the police department, including equipment, supplies and officer salaries.

Those who have a $40,000 home would pay $36.75 per year or an additional $15.50 over the current rate. For a $60,000 home, it would be $55.13 or an additional $23.26. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $91.88, or an additional $38.76 per year.

The 1.5-mill levy was renewed by voters in 2004 and trustees believed then it would be a seven- to 10-year fix, but it “barely lasted seven,” due to the rising cost of everything, including repairs and parts but particularly gasoline, according to Chief Charlie Burgess.

“Gas and hospitalization (costs) have hurt us the most, but then you throw in everything else,” Burgess said.

Trustee Karl Kontnier was quick to point out, however, that police wages are not a contributing factor since officers have not received a raise in some time.

He said the township has traditionally paid the cost of officers’ health insurance in lieu of raises and has always subsidized the police department from the general fund.

Now, however, many of the revenue sources for the general fund are drying up, such as tangible per-

sonal property tax and Local Government Fund monies.

Kontnier pointed out that, in 2007, the township received $92,092.12 in LGF monies, which was cut to $52,082 in 2012 and is expected to decrease to about $39,000 in 2013.

“That hurts,” Kontnier emphasized, with Burgess saying, “We’ve done everything we can to cut expenses.”

With 10 officers – four of those full-time – Burgess said he has been covering his fifth full-time position with part-time officers to cut the cost of fringe benefits.

And despite some cuts in shifts and expenses, Burgess said that, while the national trend shows burglaries increasing, the number has actually dropped in the township over the past two years due to officers being on patrol.

The need for new cruisers is also

great, according to Kontnier, who said one has nearly 150,000 miles on the odometer.

The department has been “lucky” between the efforts of Burgess and fire Chief Mike Bahen in securing grant funding, with Kontnier saying, “They’re always filling out paperwork for grants, but we always have to have matching funds.”

Grants, for example, paid for the computer system in the department’s office and for the in-car computers as well as for all new vehicle radios and portable radios for officers, although the township did have to come up with matching shares.

To conform to new regulations, the department has to change to a different radio frequency by next year, but its older radios weren’t compatible, necessitating the new radios, and Burgess said his depart-

ment is now in compliance, ahead of schedule.

“When this (existing 1.5-mill) levy was put on in 1990, these (new) mandates followed but with no money to implement them,” Burgess pointed out.

“There is equipment out there that could help with officer safety and help them do their job, but we need money to (buy) it,” Burgess said.

While some opponents have been heard to say let the levy fail, disband the township police department and let the city and St. Clair Township take over, but Burgess said, “That isn’t the way it works. It would go to the sheriff’s office, and they’re in the same boat we are.

They’re maxed out now.” jgilbert@mojonews.com