Village official to pursue seat

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LEETONIA — A visit by two Columbiana County commissioners has prompted village administrator Gary E. Phillips to run for commissioner in 2008.

Phillips said Thursday he had been considering running for the county office.

A long visit by Commissioners Dan Bing and Penny Traina with Phillips earlier this week finally persuaded him to run.

The visit wasn’t political, although all three are Democrats, he said.

Bing, who was elected last year, began a series of meetings with officials at all levels of local government. Traina, who was appointed earlier this year, joined him.

The two commissioners are trying to promote better working relationships between the layers of government to improve operations and save money.

The county traditionally has been divided politically and economically into northern and southern halves by what has locally been dubbed the “Mason-Dixon” line.

The visit, Phillips said, “kind of impressed me.”

His past positions

Phillips, 60, has served in a variety of capacities in the village. He was on the village’s police department for 18 years, some 16 of which he served as chief.

He also was a councilman for eight years and has spent seven years as the village’s administrator.

Phillips said that over the years, many officials have called him to discuss various problems and to offer help.

But he said the meeting with the two commissioners was the first time officials came to Leetonia to talk about problems and issues.

“We spent three hours together,” Phillips said. “That kind of sparked my interest to get involved.”

He added, “I believe that government should be in the hands of the people, instead of people in the hands of government.”

Phillips said he would probably run for the seat of Republican Commissioner Jim Hoppel. Hoppel hasn’t indicated if he will seek another term.

wilkinson@vindy.com