CITY COUNCIL Pancoe is selected for 6th Ward

One committee member thought the appointment should be only temporary.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Paul Pancoe narrowly lost an election bid for the 6th Ward City Council seat in May 2003, but he'll be filling that seat for the next three years anyway.
Pancoe, 48, of 3927 Helena Ave., was appointed to the post Saturday by the 6th Ward Precinct Committee, filling the unexpired term of Councilman Clarence Boles, who resigned in September when it was revealed that past felony convictions made him ineligible to hold office.
Pancoe was one of three 6th Ward residents to ask the committee for the appointment.
The process wasn't without some controversy.
Before the vote was taken, Barbara Franklin, representing Precinct 6-G and one of those who would vote, objected to the fact that the appointee would serve the remaining three years of Boles' term.
The 7,000 or 8,000 voters in the 6th Ward should determine who will represent them for that long, Franklin said, suggesting that the committee appointment should be only temporary.
There's a general election in May, and the 6th Ward council seat could be put up for a vote then, she said.
It's "ridiculous" to allow seven people to make that appointment, she said, referring to the seven committee members who showed up for Saturday's meeting.
Lisa Antonini, chairwoman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party, ran the meeting and told Franklin that the appointment process is in line with Ohio law and the city charter.
It's the same appointment process used for any political vacancy, she said.
Pancoe's involvement
Pancoe, an electrician out of union Local 64, got five of the seven votes cast in the secret ballot to secure the appointment.
He said he plans to take his oath of office in time to take his seat at Wednesday's council meeting.
Pancoe said he got involved in the political process only two years ago and lost the party nomination to Boles by just 117 votes.
He said he's been active in the community, working with the Youngstown Volunteer Center for seven years and the Fish Samaritan House. He's also been a radio reader for the blind for seven years.
Pancoe said he complained because things weren't getting done and someone challenged him to run for office to get involved.
He promised the committee that he will work "positively and professionally" with all of members of city council for the benefit of the city and the 6th Ward.
He said his first order of business will be getting more police on the street, noting that crime in the 6th Ward needs to be addressed. He said he'll meet with other council members to determine how the size of the force can be increased.
Unhappy with selection
Franklin didn't appear happy with Pancoe's selection.
She said that if she wanted him as councilman, she would have voted for him in the election.
He doesn't have his finger on what's going on in the 6th Ward, she said.
The precinct committee originally had four candidates from which to choose, but Atty. Michael McBride withdrew at the last minute.
Maggie Lorenzi of East Midlothian Boulevard, a longtime concerned citizen who said she has missed only five city council meetings over the last three years, secured two committee votes.
Dagmar Amrhein of East Lucius Avenue, owner of Ohio Color Inc. in Boardman, got no votes.