TRUMBULL COUNTY Johnston Township trustee sets sights on commissioner's position

At least six people are interested in the appointment.
JOHNSTON -- Township Trustee Donald J. Barzak has joined the hunt for a Trumbull County commissioner's seat.
Barzak said today he will seek appointment by the county's Democratic party to the seat held by Michael O'Brien, who won the May Democratic primary race for Warren mayor.
Either way, Barzak said, he'll go for it at the ballot box next spring.
"Appointment or no appointment, I'm running for that seat," he said.
If O'Brien wins the November general election, party officials would have to appoint someone to serve as a county commissioner within two weeks after he becomes mayor in January.
That person will serve for only a few months until the next primary.
The state legislature has not determined if the primary next year will be in March or May, said Norma Williams, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
The choices
Party chairman Christ Michelakis said others who have expressed interest in the appointment include James Herrholtz Sr. of Hubbard, an office manager for the Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters in Youngstown; Thomas Hannon, former McDonald mayor; Jeff Hovanic, a Champion trustee and bailiff for Judge Thomas Gysegem of Warren Municipal Court; Gwen Logan, commissioner candidate in 1998 and wife of Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court; and Warren Councilman-at-Large Dan Polivka.
Barzak has been a trustee for 14 years and runs an insurance and financial-planning business.