Voters will go to the polls on Tues., May 6 for the primary elections that show several issue of particular interest.
      In precinct 7, where the Boardman Police Department says illegal drug activity is prevalent, voters will be asked to vote on a local option booze sales, including on Sundays, at True North, 5135 Market St.
      Three renewal tax issues will be on the ballot, including a three-tenths mil Boardman Park renewal (see page 7 of this week’s Boardman News); as well as 1.8-mil and 2.4-mil tax renewals for the Boardman Local School District. The school district’s renewal issues are for three-year periods and raise some $3.468 million annually for the district.
      A variety of county wide races will be on the ballot, perhaps highlighted by the race for the Judge of Probate Court where Judge Mark Belinky recently resigned in the wake of an investigation into the use of his campaign finances.
      Gov. John Kasich will appoint someone to that post, that won’t be filled by the voters until the November general elections.
      The Democrat camp is a hotly-contested race featuring Atty. Chris Sammarone and Atty. Susan Maruca.
      Maruca has said the race “isn’t about politics” and on the other side of her banterings, she has taken issue with Sammarone using lofty remarks said about him by former Youngstown State head football coach Jim Tressel.
      Some suggest should former Mahoning County Bar Association president Robert Rusu gain appointment to the Probate Court by Kasich, he could be the favored candidate for the job in the general elections.
      Maruca had been deemed ‘not recommended’ by her peers in the Mahoning County Bar Association.
      On the ballot for judgeships in the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas are incumbents R. Scott Krichbaum, Maureen Sweeney, John Durkin and Beth Smith, all of whom have served their constituents with merit. Krichbaum and Durkin are the only two judicial candidates who have been ‘highly recommended’ by their peers in the county bar association.
      Unopposed for State Senator from the 33rd District is Boardman native Joe Schiavoni, of 880 Westport Dr. He has been a leader in attempting to force greater accountability for charter schools in the state.
      Of four candidates on the ballot for judge in the Seventh District Court of Appeals, one candidate, David Engler, is “not recommended” by the Mahoning County Bar Association. “Recommended” are Carol Robb, Anthony Donofrio and Cheryl Waite.