Voters face key issues in Tuesday's election

When you go to the polls on Tuesday and are still undecided about the only statewide issue on the ballot, or have made up your mind to vote no, we urge you to consider the following: State Issue 1 isn't about partisan politics or about Gov. Bob Taft, it's about the economic future of Ohio.
The $500 million bond issue Ohioans are being asked to approve is not a tax increase, nor will it require a tax increase in the future. Rather, it is an investment tool to create new high-paying jobs, recruit world class researchers to the state and bring state-of-the-art products to market. The constitutional amendment to authorize the issuance of $500 million in general obligations bonds is the final piece of the $1.6 billion Third Frontier Project, the largest economic development initiative the state has launched.
The Mahoning Valley already is and will continue to be a recipient of some of the money.
That is why we believe voters should set aside their opinions of the governor or of politics in general and view the issue in a purely objective fashion.
Third Frontier must be fully implemented for Ohio to be competitive with those states that have already established themselves as cutting-edge, high technology powerhouses.
In addition to the statewide issue, voters in Mahoning and Trumbull counties will face two important countywide questions. In Mahoning County, the mental health board is seeking approval of a 0.85-mill, five-year replacement levy to fund its various services; in Trumbull County, voters will decide whether a 0.5 percent sales tax imposed by county commissioners earlier this year should be continued.
We urge passage of both.
The Vindicator spent several weeks reviewing some of the races, studying the positions of the candidates and conducting interviews with the contenders. With all that information in hand, the newspaper made the following endorsements.
MAHONING COUNTY
Youngstown
Council president -- James A. Fortune Sr.
Board of education -- Alycia Bolds, Jamael Brown, Shelley Murray, Gerri Sullivan
Boardman
Trustee -- Elaine Mancini
Board of education -- Mark Huberman, Robert DeMarco
Austintown
Trustee -- Richard Edwards
Board of education -- David Ritchie, Eugene Benyo
TRUMBULL COUNTY
Warren
Mayor -- Michael O'Brien
Girard
Board of education -- Jane Harris, Phil Fisher
Howland
Trustee -- Rick Clark
The Vindicator also urges voters to support the various school levies on the ballot.