Ditzler, Pritchard earn re-election as trustees

In January 2004, when Lisa Oles took a seat on the Austintown Board of Trustees there was widespread speculation that her victory was an indication of political things to come. Oles' numerous public clashes with Warren "Bo" Pritchard and David Ditzler were seen as a softening up of the incumbent trustees for this year's election.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the main event: The political bloodletting suddenly ended and now the word cooperation has replaced the word conflict.
Not convinced? Then consider the re-election bids by Ditzler and Pritchard in the Nov. 8 general. They face two challengers who certainly don't live up to all the chatter that surrounded Oles in those early days. Remember her contention that her colleagues were "grandstanding" in the way they were conducting business, and her insistence that her professional relationship with them had been destroyed and was irreparable?
When she said that Ditzler and Pritchard had "burned a bridge that they will never cross again," Austintown residents began to wonder whether she had anointed anyone to challenge Ditzler and Pritchard.
Challengers
However, the ballot for the trustees' race does not reflect the kind of all-out-war against the incumbents many expected. The two challengers, Sam Swoger III and Ed Rowland, certainly don't live up to the hype. Neither attended The Vindicator's editorial board interviews. Swoger filled out a questionnaire and confirmed his appointment, but then didn't show.
That made our job of endorsing the two incumbents, Ditzler and Pritchard, easy. Any challenger would have had to have done more than just show up to win an endorsement, and Swoger and Rowland didn't even do that.
With 20 years' service to the township between them, Ditzler and Pritchard are not only intimately familiar with all aspects of Austintown's government, but they understand what needs to be done to ensure that the township satisfies the basic needs of the residents and facilitates commercial and residential growth.
Along with Oles, they are developing a fiscal plan that not only meets the goal of a balanced budget but looks to the future.
Because Austintown is the fifth largest township in the state and has an operating budget in excess of $10 million, there is a tendency on the part of some residents to expect government to be all things to all people. It cannot, which is why one of the most important jobs of trustee is to set spending priorities.
We believe Ditzler, Pritchard and Oles have come up with a successful formula for not only ensuring the health, safety and welfare of residents, but for providing them with a good quality of life.
Ninety percent of the township's water problems have been solved, the fire department has been expanded and the police department has been revamped to ensure a strong presence of officers on the streets.
Commercial development
Over the past 10 years, Austintown has attracted over $200 million in commercial and residential development, but the trustees have made sure that the growth has not negatively impacted the community at large.
Despite this success, they are well aware that they must look to the future in terms of meeting the demands and challenges with stagnant or even reduced revenue. In that regard, Ditzler and Pritchard both embrace the concept of regional cooperation and are exploring the possibility of regional safety forces.
We have long advocated government consolidation and applaud the trustees for giving serious consideration to Austintown, Boardman and Canfield having unified police and fire departments.
While the spirit of cooperation that seems to have taken over in Austintown is much preferred to the battles waged last year, we do encourage the trustees to engage in thoughtful public debate because residents deserve a full airing of the issues of the day.
Ditzler and Pritchard have earned the community's support and The Vindicator urges their re-election on Nov. 8.