When the electorate goes to the polls on Tues., Nov. 7, three candidates will be on the ballot for Boardman Township Trustee, including incumbents Thomas Costello and Brad Calhoun.
      They deserve re-election, and their lone opponent, David Moliterno, is totally and unequivocally unqualified for election.
      Mr. Costello, Mr. Calhoun, along with Trustee Larry Moliterno and Fiscal Officer William Leicht, have formed a strong leadership team and frequently express their desire to do what is in the best interests of the community.
      They have not deviated from that stance.
      For example, despite irrational demands in the collective bargaining process made by the local fire-fighters union, Trustees have pressed ahead with the construction of a new fire station.
      The new station will open next year and will be centrally located to best serve the township.
      As the crucible of community safety, manpower at the Boardman Police Department has been restored, and there are little known programs put in place to help promote safety. Among them is the daily security walk-throughs at local public and parochial schools conducted by the police department. There is a real effort made to insure a police presence in our schools. As well, the school resource officers have been expanded from one officer to three officers during the school year.
      Our police department is a beacon throughout Mahoning County.
      At the road department, Trustees embarked upon a cooperative purchasing program that has reduced costs for materials used for winter snow and ice control, and another cooperative purchasing program has been implemented that reduced overall costs for the summer road resurfacing program, allowing the township to pave more streets during the summer months.
      With an eye towards maintaining the integrity of our neighborhoods, the township’s zoning/planning department regularly works to insure properties are well-kept and in line with zoning regulations.
      Mr. Costello and Mr. Calhoun are two of the best Township Trustees to ever serve in the modern era of Boardman Township. And they have done so, despite the loss of some $3 million in state subsidies and rollbacks in local property taxes. Despite that loss of funding, construction of a new main fire station has been undertaken without an additional tax levy.
      In the best interests of Boardman Township, Trustees Tom Costello and Brad Calhoun deserve re-election. They have worked diligently keep Boardman A Nice Place to Call Home.