Mark Hanni on wrong track attacking Smith

Mark Hanni on wrong track attacking Smith
EDITOR:
The shenanigans going on with Mark Hanni's trying to take over the county Republican Party is more than I can fairly address in one letter to the editor. However, I could not let his derogatory remarks about current chairman Clarence Smith go without comment.
I moved to Mahoning County seven years ago from a neighboring state. For three years I never even knew there was a Republican Party in the county. It wasn't until 1998, following Mr. Smith's, election that I became aware of the organization. Struggling as the party was at the time, Mr. Smith took on the challenge, making a name for the party through media contacts and recruiting candidates for county offices.
Living in a Democratic stronghold such as northeast Ohio is going to inherently make the Republican Party a little weaker. Mr. Smith, however, has started a movement in a positive direction that can only get better with the right leadership.
One day Mr. Smith will no longer be Mahoning County Republican chairman. Let all true Republicans hope that his successor will continue in his positive footsteps and make his own strides in bringing the party to its full potential.
A lifelong Democrat such as Hanni is obviously not the right person for the job. His comments in the media referring to Mr. Smith's financial success do nothing but incite class warfare. The personal attacks are, at best, mean spirited and not true of the Mr. Smith I know.
If Hanni really wants to be a Republican, as his candidacy for the county party chairmanship would imply, let him take the advice of a truly converted GOP leader, that great communicator, Ronald Reagan who said, "Never speak ill of a fellow Republican."
STACY GOODEN
New Middletown
Home rule should be on ballot for voters to decide
EDITOR:
As Thomas Jefferson wrote in The Declaration of Independence, "governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The recent act of the Austintown Board of Trustees to accumulate power violates this principle. Although their action was authorized by the state legislature, this does not negate the fact that the trustees have attempted to empower themselves without the consent of the governed.
When the legislature provided for a board of trustees to change the government of the people without a vote, they also provided a defense to this action. This defense requires an affirmative act by the citizens. Ohio revised Code & sect; 504.01 (B) (1) provides that, "The resolution shall become effective 30 days after the date of its adoption unless within that 30-day period there is presented to the board of township trustees a petition, requesting the board of township trustees to submit the question of establishing a limited home rule government to the electors of that area for approval or rejection at a special election to be held on the day of the next primary or general election occurring at least 75 days after the petition is presented."
Whether or not as individuals they support the concept of "limited home rule government," the people should not acquiesce to the hijacking of their government. As a free society, we cannot allow the voices of three to speak for thousands in their choice of a form of government. Support a petition to place the issue before the people.
MARK J. DILTS
Austintown