Fire district key in election

Operation of the proposed fire district is held up in court.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Voters will have the opportunity Tuesday to vote for or against those officials who created the Quaker Community Fire District.
But there hasn't been much talk here about the fire district, once a hot-button issue, leading up to the election.
Republican and Democratic party leaders gave their take Thursday on why that is so.
Charles Presley, chairman of the Salem-Perry Township Republican Party, said, "I think people have their minds made up" on who they will vote for.
Larry Bowersock, vice chairman of the Columbiana County Democratic Party and a Salem resident, agreed. He added, "It's a very touchy subject here in town."
Both sides have staked out familiar political ground.
Challenging GOP
Democrats and unions are trying to replace three at-large Republicans on city council, a Republican council president, and an incumbent township trustee, who all voted to create the fire district.
"We're for keeping the [city] fire department," Bowersock said.
Presley said, however, that the fire district has been formed, adding, "it's just a matter of implementing it."
Salem City Council and the Perry Township trustees have agreed to eliminate their fire departments and form the district.
That plan is on hold, however, because of a preliminary injunction a common pleas court judge granted city firefighters.
The route to the fire district's formation has taken many twists and turns, including city fire department supporters proposing -- and two-thirds of city voters approving -- ballot initiatives to require public votes on eliminating the city fire department.
Council repealed the ordinances and created the district.
That situation offers the potential for a turnout of city residents, who didn't get to vote on whether they wanted a fire district, to cast ballots against those who pushed for the fire district. But Presley doesn't see that as a problem.
The city and township are now cooperating after times when they did not communicate with each other, he said.
wilkinson@vindy.com