Write-in won't appeal recount

A recount upholds the victory of David Engler over James E. Roberts for a two-year seat on the Mahoning County Educational Service Center board.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A write-in candidate for Youngstown Board of Education, who was the race's apparent winner only to lose by two votes in a recount, will let the decision stand.
Neil Buzzacco opted not to file an appeal of his two-vote loss. He had until Friday to do so.
Buzzacco had a 44-vote lead Election Day for the two-year unexpired term on the school board. A recount shortly after the election had Buzzacco leading Clarence Boles by nine votes. That lead evaporated Dec. 4 when the Mahoning County Board of Elections conducted another recount and gave Boles a two-vote win.
The board counted numerous votes for Boles for people who wrote in Michael Boles, John Bole, Clearance Bowles, Clearence Bolos, Boyrols, Bolds, Bowels, Boyle and Boes. Buzzacco received credit for Bob Buzzuco, Neil Balzo, Mazzacca and Buzzicko.
"There were a lot of them the board should have thrown out, but I'm not going to fight it," Buzzacco said. "I had looked forward to serving the city, but it's not going to be that way. I'm going to let it go. It boggles my mind I could be ahead by 44 votes and lose by two."
Buzzacco had asked for another recount by the board of elections, which rejected the request.
Reaction: Boles said he was pleased to hear that Buzzacco was not going to fight the result.
"This is in character with the quiet demeanor that Mr. Buzzacco demonstrated during the campaign," Boles said. "He carried himself in a gentlemanly manner. I think his supporters were probably more upset with the loss than he was."
Other recounts: The elections board conducted recounts in four races Friday.
David Engler, a former county commissioner, defeated incumbent James E. Roberts for a two-year unexpired term on the county's educational service center board by 42 votes. An unofficial tally before Friday had Engler winning by 40 votes.
Larry Romigh, a West Branch Board of Education member, won the third and final seat on the board by 15 votes over Keith Martig. The unofficial tally before Friday had Romigh beating Martig by 14 votes.
The results of a Craig Beach 3-mill tax levy remained the same, winning 211-209.
Also, the Alliance school board numbers remained the same. Smith Township's Precinct 2 is the only portion of Mahoning County in that Stark County school district.
skolnick@vindy.com