Candidates for engineer define differing views

The two men target many
issues in the Trumbull race.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — When Trumbull County Engineer John Latell announced he wouldn’t seek re-election, two candidates jumped into the Democratic primary race on March 4.

Vying for the job are Randy Smith, the county’s deputy engineer and a Hartford Township trustee, and David DeChristofaro, Niles city engineer and Cafaro Co.’s vice president of engineering and development.

One of the primary differences between the candidates concerns a 2007 decision by the Ohio Department of Transportation to end the engineer’s ability to serve as administrator for county projects funded by the federal government.

Smith said that ODOT took the action because of politics, and the accusations made against the engineer’s office were by James Beasley, ODOT District 4 director who isn’t an engineer.

DeChristofaro countered that Smith has been running the engineer’s office rather than Latell and that “Randy is making all the decisions.”

Smith says the county engineer has attracted $15 million for projects during the next five years, but DeChristofaro asserts that the $15 million is from entitlement grants the county would have received.

Nepotism has been a problem in the engineer’s office during the past two administrations.

Smith said he doesn’t have any relatives involved in government, adding that nepotism would not be a part of his administration.

He pointed out a hiring freeze at the department that cut the number of employees from 75 in 2006 to 70 in 2007.

DeChristofaro said five people have been hired at the department since the campaign began. He noted that this money could be better used for matching funds for projects.

Concerning employment and wages, Smith said he wants to make the department as “lean and mean as possible.”

DeChristofaro said the salary gap between public and private workers is too large and that the county contribution for engineer employees should be reduced from $17,000 annually per employee to $12,000.

There has been concern that DeChristofaro may favor the Cafaro Co., and that the company urged DeChristofaro to seek the office.

DeChristofaro said that Anthony Cafaro, company president, has discouraged him from running for the office.

Despite their differences, both candidates believe a current program that allows townships and cities to use county equipment, such as excavators, street sweepers and paint stripers on the weekends, should continue or be expanded. Each community pays for the wages of the operator and fuel costs.

yovich@vindy.com