Elections board hopefuls surface

One candidate has surfaced for the Democratic post; five for the Republican.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Turnover is in the wind for members of the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
Democrat Nick Melfi, board chairman, will be stepping down in March after 10 years as a member, as will Nettie Ashelman, who has been a Republican member of the board 30 years.
Melfi, 74, who is also a former county party chairman, said he supports Barbara Katzenberger, deputy Trumbull County treasurer, for the position. Katzenberger is secretary of the county party.
"Barb's been working hard for the party and deserves the job," Melfi said, adding there is "no special reason" he is stepping down now. "It's just time to step aside. I figure 10 years is enough."
Katzenberger confirmed she is interested in the position, saying she felt this would be an interesting time to be a member because of changes in the voting technology and changes being formulated by the Ohio Legislature pertaining to registration and identification of voters.
Democrat delayed
"I have always been interested in the board of elections," Katzenberger said, adding she tried to become a member two years ago but received a ruling that she could not because Trumbull County Treasurer Christ Michelakis, her boss, was also running for county treasurer at the time. Michelakis is county Democratic party chairman.
Current board member Sherron Platt was eventually selected to fill that position.
The Democrats plan to meet Jan. 10. That will be one of the issues on the agenda, Michelakis said. Another will be appointment of a replacement for David Hines, who has resigned his position as county auditor a little over a year before his term expires.
Melfi said he was appointed to the board of elections in 1996 when Fred Alberini resigned to take a job with the state. A couple years later, Melfi was also elected county Democratic party chairman, a position he held about 5 1/2 years.
Over his 10 years, he saw some controversies but said those were minimal. "By and large, there were very little disagreements," he said. "We have had a wonderful staff all the years."
Melfi, who worked many years for U.S. Steel before the mill shut down, worked 12 years for Girard city as service/safety director and superintendent of utilities before retiring and taking on the board of elections position.
Republican replacements
Craig Bonar, Republican Party chairman, said the party's executive committee will meet Jan. 9 to vote for a replacement for Ashelman after she told him she wasn't interested in having the position four more years. Ashelman could not be reached for comment.
Bonar said five people have expressed an interest:
UNorma Williams, retired elections board director who served just before current Director Kelly S. Pallante.
UKathi Creed, state central committeewoman, representing Ashtabula and Trumbull counties, first vice president of the Republican Party.
URon Knight, Trumbull Republican party treasurer.
ULarry Turner, current legal counsel to the party.
UDon Manning, who ran against James Tsagaris four years ago for county commissioner.
Bonar said he has two years left on his position with the elections board, but his position as party chairman comes up in May, and he plans to run again for that position. He has been chairman for eight years, he said.
He said the elections board director and deputy director are also appointed March 1.
runyan@vindy.com