Commissioner candidate evicted over conditions

By SHELBY SCHROEDER

The Niles man running for county office calls the timing of the eviction ‘dirty.’

NILES — A write-in candidate for Trumbull County commissioner is being evicted from his duplex for “extensive unsanitary conditions.”

David Cook, of Niles, is running against incumbent Paul Heltzel, also of Niles. Cook has been given until Oct. 30 to vacate the home he rents at 537 Fenton Ave.

Stephen J. Yovich Jr., the city’s housing and maintenance code enforcement officer, said a complaint was filed with the city’s building inspector that Cook’s residence emitted strong odors.

Yovich said the property, which Cook rents from landlord Renza Hughley of Warren, was “filthy.”

“The internal condition of this unit exhibits an extensive unsanitary condition and is not fit to live in,” Yovich said in a property inspection report on Sept. 22.

Yovich noted that Cook, his wife, Patty, and an unspecified number of dogs resided in the home without either electricity or water. Yovich also noted the condition of the property, including a stench, broken windows, damaged walls, crumbling outdoor stairs, and refuse strewn both inside and outside of the home.

But Cook said the eviction is an attack on him by his political opponents.

“I think it’s kind of dirty that the city of Niles is coming down on me six weeks before the election,” said Cook.

Cook said he had contacted the city’s board of health and the building inspector with complaints about the duplex a year ago, but no one responded.

According to court records, Cook was also served an eviction notice on July 24, 2007, by Hughley for failure to pay rent.

Cook and his wife have 30 days to move from the property, and Yovich said legal means would be taken if the home is not vacated by then. He said there are no plans to demolish the property at this time, but that major rehabilitation would be necessary for the property to be reopened.

Cook said that although news of the eviction has caused campaign contributors to withdraw their donations, he will remain in the election.

He is not sure where he and his wife will relocate, but said it will likely be to somewhere within the district.

Calls made to Hughley’s Warren residence were not returned.

The adjacent dwelling at the duplex, on 539 Fenton Ave., was also condemned. Yovich said that of the two properties, Cook’s was in much worse condition.