THE CANDIDATES | Who they are

Five candidates are running for three seats. An (*) denotes incumbent:
NANCY COPE* (R)
Age: 53.Home: 1178-B South Lincoln Ave. Employment: None; former Organization Director for Columbiana County Farm Bureau.Education: Southern High School graduate.Family: Husband, Lorin.Priority: Maintain a sound fiscal base for the city.
ALMA APICELLA* (R)
Age: 64.Home: 500 Highland Ave.Employment: City council member since 1998.Education: Bachelor's degree in nursing from Boston College.Family: Husband, Salvatore; six children.Priority: To help create a plan that would guide the city's future development.
FRED VOGEL* (R)
Age: 45.Home: 145 Park Drive.Employment: Manager, Melas Corp., Salem. Councilman-at large from 1998 to present Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration from Otterbein College.Family: Wife, Marji; three children.Priority: Advocating a plan for growth.
AL LESCH (D)
Age: 58.Home: 305 W. Eighth St. Employment: Assembler for General Motors. City council president 1991-92 and 1995-96.Education: Attended Youngstown and Kent state universities.Family: Wife, Gayle; three children.Priority: Promoting the city's playing a more aggressive role in strengthening Salem's retail base.
CHERYL KHOLOS (D)
Age: 39.Home: 1108 Newgarden Ave.Employment: None currently; previously worked at Sheely's Furniture, North Lima, and at Associates Financial Services, Boardman.Education: Columbiana High School graduate.Family: Husband, Mark; two children.Priority: To ensure that city is not overtaken by fast-paced growth.