AUSTINTOWN Trustee blasts successor for comments

Trustee Rich Edwards says his support for Centerpointe led to his defeat.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Township Trustee Rich Edwards says he will not forgive Trustee-elect Lisa Oles for how her campaign affected his family.
"During the election campaign, at no time did I try to embarrass my opponent [Oles] in public, in print or electronic media," Edwards said at Monday night's trustees meeting. "But that person sure tried to do that to me by telling half-truths and lies to all that would listen. The type of stress that this individual caused my family was unnecessary and evil."
Oles, who was not at the meeting, later called Edwards' comments "laughable."
"Obviously, 4,400 [voters] didn't feel that way," she said. "It's not me that discredited him. It's the two years he spent in office and the decisions he made that discredited him."
Edwards discussed Oles, his loss in November's election and his two-year term in a farewell statement he read at the meeting, his last as a trustee. Oles will be sworn in Monday; she takes office Jan. 1.
Several residents gave Edwards a standing ovation as Monday's meeting came to a close.
"You truly are a fine man," said Staatz Drive resident William Crawford, his voice breaking.
Carol Burich of New Road added, "The people who didn't vote for you will probably wish they did."
Support and criticism
Edwards said he was humbled by the residents' comments. In his statement, he thanked residents for allowing him to serve as trustee and stressed that during his term he made decisions based on what was best for the township, not what was best for his political future.
"It is not about you being a trustee, it's about giving the best service to our Austintown residents," Edwards said.
He also stressed that he tried to make his re-election campaign about the issues and not personal attacks.
"I felt that attacking my opponent personally would only cause a negative image for my township and me. How wrong I was," he said. "I was even attacked for donating my salary to charities."
Edwards cited an Oles campaign flier stating that, "One of my opponents chooses to buy votes by giving money away."
Oles responded to Edwards' comments Monday by stating, "I think it's wonderful he gave the money away. Let's just hope he continues to do it."
Edwards said he plans to continue to donate to the community. Representatives of youth community baseball and soccer leagues and two youth football leagues attended Monday's meeting and thanked Edwards for donating to their organizations.
Centerpointe
Edwards also said in his statement that he believes his support of the Centerpointe business park project led to his defeat in November. Trustees unanimously approved a zone change for the park last year, despite residents' concerns that the park could destroy the natural setting; decrease the neighboring property values; and cause drainage, traffic and noise problems.
"I supported Centerpointe even in the face of threatening phone calls promising to damage my house and boycott my businesses," Edwards said. "Centerpointe will be the life blood of Austintown in the next decade. It will stimulate increased demand for existing and new construction of houses by creating jobs."
In his statement, Edwards also noted that he believes trustees need to work together in the future to do what's best for the community.
"No one wins with trustees not sharing ground," he said.
Oles responded: "I didn't run for trustee to be friends with them. I ran to represent the people. I'm a person that welcomes community input. The question is going to be, whether they welcome the community input."
hill@vindy.com