COLUMBIANA COUNTY Perry Twp. trustee seeks recorder's job

The county's Republican party is expected to make a decision on the appointment next year.
SALEM -- Perry Township Trustee Jeff Hochadel is the first person to publicly state he is interested in being appointed Columbiana County recorder.
Hochadel, 38, said Tuesday he believes he has the ability to do the job and sees it as an opportunity to serve county residents.
"The recorder's position will provide me with the opportunity to continue public service at the countywide level," Hochadel said.
Hochadel noted that he has informed Jerry Ward, county Republican Party chairman, of his interest in being appointed to fill the unexpired term of incumbent Recorder Gary Williams.
Williams will be leaving the job in early January to serve as a county commissioner.
Williams defeated incumbent Commissioner Dave Cranmer in the Nov. 5 general election.
Because Williams is a Republican, his party has the right to appoint someone to fill the nearly two years remaining on his four-year term.
Hochadel is in his third term as trustee.
His term expires in December 2003.
Looking ahead
Should he receive the appointment, his fellow trustees, Larry Parker and Jerry Wolford, would be tasked with appointing someone to finish Hochadel's trustee term.
The recorder's job is a full-time position that pays $50,084 annually.
To qualify for recorder, a person must be a county resident at least 18 years old and a registered voter.
The recorder's office is responsible for keeping vital papers, such as deeds, mortgages, liens, bills of sale and military discharge papers.
Ward said recently he will be accepting expressions of interest in the post until the party's central committee meets in early January to vote on Williams' replacement.
Ward, who was unavailable to comment Tuesday, said last week four people have said they would like to be appointed as recorder.
For more information on seeking the job, call county Republican headquarters at (330) 424-5788.