Commissioners race attracts five

By Erin Remai
Herald Staff Writer

Three Democratic candidates — including two incumbents — and two Republican candidates are seeking nominations for Trumbull County Commissioners posts in the March 7 Ohio primary. Each party will nominate two candidates for two open seats on the three-person board.

Incumbent Democrat Michael J. O’Brien, 44, of Warren, is running for his third term on the board. A graduate of JFK High School in Warren, O’Brien earned a degree in criminal justice from Youngstown State University. He served as a Warren city councilman for 11 years before being elected county commissioner.

O’Brien said his past government experience, a total of 18 years, is necessary with “the demands and mandates put on by the state and federal government as it relates to the operation of the county.”

O’Brien cited progress in the county during his term on the board. “In seven quick years courthouses have been constructed and restored, jails have been built and county buildings have been updated with the latest computer technology,” he said. “Our sheriff’s department has been outfitted with new cruisers and modern crime fighting equipment to protect our residents, sewer lines and water lines have been built to attract and retain thousands of jobs.”

O’Brien said his past two terms have been “extremely successful for the overall development of Trumbull County,” a legacy he wants to continue.

Challenging O’Brien in the Democratic primary is Warren City Councilman Ronald E. White Sr. White, 41, works as an electrical apprentice at CSC Ltd. in Warren. He graduated from Warren G. Harding High School, Warren, and Trumbull Business College. He is in his second term as a city councilman.

White said if elected he would like to bring change in county government. “The idea is new faces bring new changes and new ideas,” he said.

White said he’d like to see a few different things done with children’s services and he would like to look at child support from county, state and local levels. He also would like to see new jobs in the area.

“Jobs here are starting to go down. We need some good jobs but a lot are afraid to come in,” he said. “We have a strong, healthy and smart work force.”

White said Warren is in a deficit right now and he would like to propose a fund that would protect townships, cities and villages from becoming insolvent.

“We should try to take care of ourselves within,” he said. “If a city is in trouble we should come to their aid.”

White said he’s been told that by running for commissioner he’s “moving too fast,” but he said he’s up for the challenge.

“Babies learn to crawl, and they learn how to walk,” he said. “I feel I could do a good job and learn to work with the other commissioners.”

Incumbent Democrat Joseph J. Angelo Jr., 45, of Warren, is running without opposition. Angelo, who is seeking his third term on the board, attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio and served 11 years on Warren city council before becoming a commissioner.

Angelo’s accomplishments during his two terms in office include renovations of county buildings, a sales tax reduction from three-fourths percent to half percent and the Trumbull County 911 center, which opened in 1994.

Angelo said the county sunk over $8 million dollars into the renovation of the county courthouse and $23 million into the new county jail.

Another thing Angelo said he is proud of is the expansion of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna. He said the county received matching grants from the federal government to develop at the airport in hopes of attracting new business. “We need the airport for the business industry. We’re looking for better things to come out of the airport,” he said. “We’re looking for bigger and better things in the future.” Competing in the Republican primary are Hubbard native Michael K. Toda and Thomas Montgomery of Cortland. Montgomery did not return phone calls made to his home for this story.

Toda, 46, who ran for Hubbard city mayor in November, graduated from Hubbard High School and DeAnza College in Cupertino, Calif. He has been self-employed as an income tax preparer for 12 years.

Toda said he decided to run for commissioner after the Republican party in Trumbull County, noticing his interest in politics, contacted him about running.

Toda said running for commissioner is his best opportunity for getting involved in the government. He said he’d like to see more new jobs come into the county. “I’d really like the opportunity to help ... I believe a lot more can be done as far as bringing in new jobs,” Toda said. “I believe there’s better out there and it’s a matter of getting it in (the county).”

Toda said the county over the years has lost hundreds of jobs and replaced them with minimum wage jobs instead of better-paying jobs.

“There is nothing for the youth, and the youth is the future,” he said. “This area is destined to become a retirement area.”

Back to TOP // Herald Local news // Local news headlines // Herald Home page

Questions/comments: online@sharon-herald.com
For info about advertising on our site or Web-site creation: advertising@sharon-herald.com

012700