Mondell receives some endorsements

The endorsements came from officials, not committees.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Democrat candidates for mayor said they'll continue to campaign after former Mayor Alvahn Mondell received personal endorsements from some Democratic officials.
Dennis Johnson, Columbiana County Democrat Party chairman, said Monday he was endorsing Mondell.
Thomas Moyer, the chairman of the Salem-Perry Democrat Committee, said he endorsed Mondell as well.
The endorsements were personal endorsements and were not from the county party, Johnson said.
Moyer said he believed Mondell is the best candidate for the mayor's office. He said he had explained his opinion to the committee, which has not endorsed a candidate.
Johnson said it was rare to have such public endorsements in a primary election but it has happened several times. Normally the county party does not endorse candidates, while people support their favorite candidate.
Johnson said he had been asking Mondell for more than a year to run again for mayor.
Previous stint
Mondell was mayor from 1988 through 1995. Among other projects, he helped to bring Carriage Hill Foods to the city.
Candidates who had announced their campaign for mayor, such as Democrat Councilmen Clyde Brown and Justin Palmer, and Republican Perry Township Trustee Jerry Wolford, have been stressing economic development.
Several area industries have closed in recent years and others have indicated they are having problems. The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce has formed a committee to help work with the industries.
Johnson said he thought Mondell had done a good job his first time in office and should run again. Johnson said he believed Mondell would fit in with the party's plans.
"I know he would be able to work with business, talk to them and help turn things around," Johnson said.
Johnson said he, East Liverpool Mayor James Swogger and county Prosecutor Robert Herron of Salem had endorsed Mondell.
Mondell, 67, said he has retired as a pilot from USAirways and has more time to devote to the job.
The former mayor said he was interested in the expansion of U.S. Route 62 that would speed access to markets for Salem manufacturers. Mondell said that he would not take any campaign contributions; when he ran for a second term he also did not take such contributions.
Campaigns continue
Brown, Palmer and Scott Cranmer, the city's safety director and the first person to file for office this year, all said they will continue to campaign as planned.
Brown said he would continue talking to people and going door-to-door.
Palmer said he had to "respectfully" disagree with the endorsements.
"I think the city is ready for a new voice and a new director for the future," Palmer said.
Cranmer said Moyer had told him there would be no endorsements from the committee because there were several candidates in the race.
Wolford said it appears he will be the only Republican candidate for the office.
The filing deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday.
wilkinson@vindy.com