BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Permanent improvement tax levies could be used in the future to construct a new public school building; an incumbent office-holder and her challenger both said they ‘go to work everyday;’ and a Republican incumbent state senator failed to appear last week at a candidates’ night held at the Lariccia Family Community Center at Boardman Park.
      Boardman Local School Supt. Tim Saxton said, among two renewal issues on the ballot will be a 1.6-mil permanent improvement levy---
      “There’s one, little tweak we’re looking for, asking to make this a continual levy,” the superintendent said, meaning the tax funds raised by approval of the issue would never be voted on again.
      The permanent improvement levy was first approved by the electorate in 1998 and raises about $1.4 million a year, Saxton said.
      “A continual levy…gives us a financial foundation for large capital improvement projects…we can do our own, creative financing and not pass new taxes on anybody,” Saxton said.
      For several years, Boardman Local School officials have discussed abandoning Center Middle School that sits on some 19 acres near the center of Boardman Township. At one point, some suggest that Mernard’s had looked at the property, valued at more than $5 million, but considered the site too small.
      As well, the school board now calls Glenwood Middle School, Boardman High School and Spartan Stadium a ‘campus,’ where a new intermediate school could be constructed.
      “There’s no doubt Center is an aging building…a long-standing tradition…We have to make some decisions about it and we can’t even have a conversation until we strengthen our financial picture,” Saxton said.
      “Going to a continuing levy will allow us to begin some great conversation with our community about what we can do with Center Intermediate School,” he said.
      Saxton added that the school system will also place a 5.8-mil renewal issue on the November ballot. The issue, first approved in 2003, raises about $5 million annually.
      Gino DeFabio, challenger for a seat on the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners, recalled his work history as a Teamster, decried some $27 million in county funds that were spent on at Oak Hill Center in Youngstown (where the Mahoning County Board of Elections is headquartered), and called for a ‘comprehensive audit’ if he was elected.
      “I wanna help you protect your tax dollars,” DiFabio said, claiming he “didn’t see the commissioners working for our county.”
      DiFabio, the Republican challenger, told those in attendance, “I won’t worry about the politics.”
      Incumbent Carol Rimedio-Righetti, a Democrat, has served as a county commissioner since 2011.
      “I go to work everyday. Experience is invaluable and I am proud to run on my record in overseeing this $350 million (county government) corporation,” the incumbent said. “We are prudent with our finances.”
      Rimedio-Righetti said among her priorities are public safety, creation of a justice fund for monies for the sheriff’s department, prosecutor and coroner’s office.
      Among many accomplishments of the board of commissioners while she has served, the commissioner cited creation of a facility to serve developmentally-disabled persons, partnering with the Western Reserve Port Authority to aid economic development in the county, approval of a special district to aid in redevelopment of the Southern Park Mall, distribution of American Relief Act funds to communities throughout the county, and support for infra-structure projects.
      For example, last November, the county board of commissioners approved $1 million in funding for creation of a stormwater park on the site of Market St. Elementary School, Rimedio-Righetti said, adding she has received endorsements from law enforcement and labor groups.
      Judge Eugene Donofrio is seeking re-election to a seat on the Seventh District Court of Appeals. He cited his record of judicial integrity and independence.
      He is opposed by Atty. Mark Hanni, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the appellate court a decade ago.
      Hanni said he is a ‘constitutionalist,’ who doesn’t believe the critical race theory or transgenders “should be shoved down our children’s throats.”
      Incumbent State Rep. Al Cutrona, a Republican, seeking reelection to the 58th district Ohio House of Representative seat, said he is able “to reach across the aisle,” noting he has supported funding for law enforcement, schools, nurses and combating the opioid epidemic.
      Cutrona will be opposed by Bruce Neff, a Democrat and a member of Canfield City Council.
      “The dysfunction in our state government makes our state legislature incredibly important, and that’s why I am running,” Neff said. He called the state’s school funding “unconstitutional.”
      Boardman Township Administrator, Jason Loree, said the township will place two renewal issues on the ballot---a 2.2-mil police and fire issue; and a 2.9-mil issue for current expenses.
      He also said bids for the stormwater park at the site of Market St. Elementary School will be opened in October.
      The park will be able to provide some 1,000,000 gallons of water retention during peak storm periods and is designed to alleviate surface water issues for some 1,400 homes, Loree said.
      Once the stormwater park is completed (fall of 2023), Trustees will seek water flow improvements along a water course that extends from Forest Lawn Cemetery to Lake Newport in Mill Creek Park. To date, neither the cemetery or park district has demonstrated a willingness to work with township officials to make improvements along the water course.
      Also addressing the Civic Association forum was Democrat Bob Hagan. seeking a seat at an Ohio State Senator. He is opposing incumbent Republican Sen. Michael Rulli, who failed to show-up at the forum. Hagan spewed party politics, asking those in attendance if they were better off this year than last year, and then spewing a barrage of party politics blaming Republicans for ‘partisan politics.’
      Serving as moderator for the election forum was Mark Luke. The invocation was given by Lauren Johnson.