Melfi's ready to get back to business in Girard

The current McDonald mayor will face another challenger in November.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Mayor James Melfi was looking forward to coming to work today.
"I am honored and humbled by the results of this election," he said. "It was a huge mandate by the citizens who recognized we had been placed in a situation of quite a financial mess but that we turned it around in short time and stabilized."
Melfi, a Democrat who will face no opposition in November, defeated three challengers by wide margins Tuesday to become the city's leader for another four years.
Melfi said he is pleased voters recognized he delivered on his previous campaign's promise of running the city like a business.
"We're going to keep doing what we've been doing," he said. "The public can expect another four years of me and my administration protecting them."
Council seats
In Girard's race for the three council-at-large seats, the incumbents survived to run again in November. Tuesday's winners were John N. Moliterno, Joseph Lambert Jr. and Joseph F. Christopher; the fourth candidate, Daniel Moadus Jr., lost his bid.
Independent candidate John J. Bevilaqua will try for one of the seats in the fall.
In the contested ward races, Frank J. Migliozzi defeated Deanna Teter-Maynard in the 1st Ward, Larry L. Williams beat Michael A. Costarella in the 2nd Ward and Thomas J. Seidler II won the 3rd Ward Democratic nomination, defeating incumbent Clyde R. Wagner. Seidler will face independent Joseph N. Krizancic in November.
In the city's 4th Ward, newcomer Jeremy W. Williams defeated incumbent Charles M. Doran.
McDonald
In McDonald, Mayor James W. Border soundly defeated Council President Pro Tem Rose Yakubov for the Democratic nomination. Border, who will face independent candidate Jack J. Dugan Jr. in November, said he expects a different race in the coming months.
"I am sure Jack will run a cleaner campaign," he said, referring to the public battles in recent months between him and Yakubov on personal and professional issues, on and off council floor. "Jack previously served on council, and was chairman of the finance committee. I got along well with him."
In McDonald's council races, Democrats Robert A. Farr Jr. and Kevin Robert O'Connell will square off in November against independent candidates Glenn W. Homes, who currently sits on council, Joseph S. Sanson and Peter D. Sudol.
slshaulis@vindy.com