COLUMBIANA CO. Perry trustee named to post

The new recorder is expected to resign from his township position next week.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Perry Township Trustee Jeff Hochadel will be the new Columbiana County recorder, but the assignment also means he'll be vacating his trustee post.
The county Republican party met Thursday and named Hochadel, 38, of Salem, to the post vacated by Gary Williams, who was elected county commissioner in November.
Since Williams is a Republican, it was up to that party to name his successor.
Hochadel is expected to take office in the next few days. He will finish Williams' term, which expires in nearly two years. After that, he can ask voters to return him for a full term.
Hochadel said this morning that he will step down Monday from his trustee's post. Fellow trustees Jerry Wolford and Larry Parker will be tasked with appointing someone to finish Hochadel's trustee term, which expires at the end of this year.
Hochadel, a businessman, said today that he's pleased to get the recorder's job. He sought the post because he said he wanted to continue in public service. The full-time post pays $50,084 annually.
Reaction
County Commissioner President Jim Hoppel said today that he believes fellow Republicans made a good choice in picking Hochadel.
Hoppel cited Hochadel's youth, his business acumen and his electibility as pluses for getting the appointment.
Hochadel was one of five people interested in the job.
The runner-up in the voting was Patrick White of Columbiana.
White has previously made unsuccessful bids to be elected state representative.
Also seeking the job were Parker, Hochadel's fellow trustee; and Wayne Wallace, who has unsuccessfully run for county commissioner.
Meeting with staff
Hochadel said he plans to meet today with the recorder's office four-person staff and begin familiarizing himself with the office.
One of his priorities will be to address the department's equipment needs.
Williams has said the recorder's office needs updated equipment to more efficiently do its job, which entails recording vital papers, such as deeds, mortgages, liens, bills of sale and military discharge papers.
The cost of upgrading equipment is expected to be expensive, however.
Leasing it would cost $75,000 to $100,000 annually. Buying it would cost $150,000 to $300,000, Williams has said.