Mayor withstands effort by officials to oust him

In Lordstown, Mayor Arno Hill said he was the victim of a whisper campaign.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
McDONALD -- Negative campaign fliers passed out at the last minute urging voters not to retain James W. Border as mayor here were unsuccessful.
"I think the voters are smarter than what people think," said Border, who defeated challenger Jack J. Dugan Jr. by fewer than 100 votes.
The fliers, distributed throughout the village Monday night, were signed by several school officials, including the superintendent and president of the board of education.
"I always thought a school system was supposed to be nonpartisan," Border said, adding that he received a copy of the letter when his teenage son brought one home from school. "But the fliers didn't work, and I think it shows that our school board needs cleaned up. It's time to throw out the trash."
Border was one of two village leaders voters decided to keep in office, as Glenn Holmes was re-elected to council. Holmes, who was appointed to fill a vacant seat earlier this year, will be joined on council by newcomer Robert A. Farr. Jr. Farr edged out three other challengers for the two open council seats.
Lordstown
In Lordstown, Mayor Arno A. Hill lost his re-election bid to political newcomer Michael A. Chaffee, who won with almost 57 percent of the vote.
Hill had been touted for his work to keep the General Motors plant in the village, as well as his work to garner grant money to construct a new $1.3 million water line to the plant. But the outgoing mayor said his detractors started a whisper campaign against him more than six months ago, focusing on his unwillingness to rubber-stamp the appointment of Brent Milhoan as village police chief earlier this year. He and council instead opted to use the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police to select a pool of candidates for the job. Milhoan was ultimately named chief.
"It's hard when you put your heart and soul into this job and the voters turn their back on you," Hill said.
As for village council, one sitting representative will return, while a former councilwoman will also come back to the board. William Dray won his bid for re-election, while Mary Jane Wilson led the pack of five candidates for the two open seats. Current Councilman Daniel Cuckovich lost his re-election bid, finishing fourth in the race, ahead of Stanley F. Czeck and behind Michael Sullivan.
In the clerk's race, Judith Hall retained her position, getting 71 votes more than her closest competitor, Ruth Ann Horvath. Current Councilwoman Karen J. Jones rounded out the cast of challengers.
slshaulis@vindy.com