For Trumbull commissioner: Heltzel and Polivka

The surprising thing about the race for Trumbull County commissioner is that any four people would want the job, given the challenges facing the county.
The amazing thing is that all four are serious candidates, and one of them is excellent.
Daniel Polivka, 41, a Warren Democrat, was appointed commissioner in January, after Michael O'Brien left his seat on the board to become mayor of Warren. Polivka is a longtime Warren councilman who has worked in his family's construction and development business. He is being challenged by Philip O. DeCapito, 45, a Cortland Republican who has been a Citigroup account executive since 1999.
The second seat is being sought by Paul E. Heltzel, 58, of Niles , who defeated the incumbent, Joseph Angelo, in the Democratic primary. Heltzel is an attorney and former Trumbull County assistant prosecutor. The Republican candidate is Michael Colello, 52, of Cortland, a millwright for Johnson Rubber and a Mecca Township trustee the past 10 years
Endorsements
We strongly endorse Heltzel, believing that his education and background, which includes an MBA from Wharton School of Business and a law degree from Notre Dame, and experience in business, law and politics uniquely qualify him for the job.
Colello is no doubt earnest and has experience at the township level, but Trumbull County's fiscal and legal problems cry out for Heltzel at this time.
Our endorsement of Polivka is less enthusiastic. He brings to the job political savvy and years of experience, but he has not yet even tried to take on Angelo and the third commissioner, James Tsagaris, regarding the county's shaky management.
This is a county where voters have rejected a half-percent sales tax and where criminal investigations into improper spending have been going on for years. It's going to demand an extraordinary effort. We're not sure Heltzel and Polivka are even up to the challenge, but they stand far above the leadership the county has had in recent years and represent the best chance it now has of digging out.