TRUMBULL COUNTY Weathersfield chief to seek sheriff's job

The candidate wants to institute a senior-citizen awareness program.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- Veteran law enforcement officer Joseph P. Consiglio has announced his candidacy for Trumbull County sheriff.
Consiglio, Weathersfield Township police chief, said he intends to run against Sheriff Thomas Altiere in the March 2 Democratic primary.
Consiglio, 59, is the first candidate to announce he'll run against Altiere, who is paid $83,942 annually.
Nick Melfi, former chairman of the Trumbull County Democrat Party and a member of the county elections board, said Wednesday that he hasn't heard of any other candidates' expressing an interest in challenging Altiere.
Consiglio said he believes he can do a better job than Altiere in managing finances and manpower.
"I wouldn't be running if there was not a lack of leadership," Consiglio said. "The public needs to be able to trust the leader of the department."
He pointed to what he believes is "fat" in the senior ranks of the department.
In addition, the candidate said he wants to increase cooperation among the law enforcement agencies and institute a senior-citizen awareness program.
Consiglio said he would work with senior centers to make them aware of what they can do to avert being bilked by con artists.
"They are basically the most trusting people," he said of senior vulnerability.
Consiglio touts his experience as a lawman as another reason he wants to be the county's top cop.
Background
A Weathersfield resident, he has been a member of the township police department for 20 years and was named chief in February 2002.
Before that, he worked as a detective with the sheriff's department for five years and developed the first narcotics investigative unit in the county.
Consiglio is a graduate of Niles McKinley High School and attended Youngstown State University for two years. He also served in the Army for two years.
yovich@vindy.com