Council in Niles getting new faces

The city law director retains his seat after winning by more than 1,000 votes.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Councilman Paul Hogan of the 4th Ward never considered politics his career but saw it more as an adventure.
In a crowded field for three at-large seats for city council, Hogan, who served as a Niles firefighter for 30 years, and former Mayor John P. Shaffer lost their bids to serve the residents.
Current council-at-large representatives Stephen G. Papalas and Thomas P. Scarnecchia retained their seats. The 2nd Ward incumbent Michael A. Lastic rounds out the new list.
Hogan said he has no regrets about his decision to leave his ward seat and try for an at-large position, saying he wanted the chance to represent more of the city. He's currently finishing his second full term as 4th Ward representative; his son, Democrat Michael J. Hogan, will face off against independents Ron Aulet and Ray Cox in November for the seat.
"I'm the maverick up there," Paul Hogan said of his current position. "I was the one who didn't vote for the mayor's raise. I was the one who thought the safety and service positions should be separate. ... I don't know if that hurt me. Apparently it did."
2nd Ward
The other hotly contested race in the city was for the 2nd Ward council seat. There, Ted J. Papas walked away the winner. Robert J. Jacola finished second; George R. Herlinger and Rocky L. Rivella tied for third.
Incumbent Frank S. Fuda of the 1st Ward defeated Bernie Profato and will face independent Dave Wilkerson for the seat in November.
In the 3rd Ward race, Democratic incumbent Reginald F. Giancola Jr. retained his seat, defeating challenger Barbara Simeone-Wike by 41 votes.
Terry Swauger, who is president of the Niles Board of Education, lost his bid against incumbent J. Terrence Dull for the city law director job by a nearly 2-1 vote. Dull walked away with 2,315 votes to Swauger's 1,230.