Poland’s new mayor takes office

The new mayor will serve through the end of the year.

POLAND — Christine Yash stepped into the mayor’s seat after 15 years as a member of council.

Damian DeGenova, village solicitor, administered the oath of office at council’s meeting Tuesday. Yash will serve as mayor through the year’s end.

Yash, first elected in 1991, is unopposed in November in her re-election bid to her council seat.

Ruth Wilkes resigned last month after 18 years as mayor to take a position in Attorney General Marc Dann’s office.

Under law, council’s president pro tempore becomes mayor if a mayor resigns.

Joseph Mazur, who had been president pro tempore, then resigned from that position while retaining his council seat.

Mazur, who has more than two years left in his term, was concerned about losing his council seat if he became mayor.

Council then appointed Yash as president pro tem, meaning she became mayor. Her mayoral appointment leaves a council vacancy.

Those interested in the seat must apply by Tuesday, and council will interview the candidates that same day.

Council is expected to make its selection at the July 17 council meeting.

So far, six people have applied. Among them are the three candidates vying for the mayor’s seat in November: Republican John Yerian III and independents, Timothy Sicafuse and Ralph Mentzer. The other three are Ted Heineman, a member of the village’s stormwater advisory team and cemetery association; Robert Mastriana, an architect; and Joseph Esposito, a Youngstown State University student.

Yash’s appointment also left the pro tem position open for the second time in a few weeks. Council members reappointed Mazur to that post at Tuesday’s meeting.