MSWCD plans election for board

The three-year supervisor’s position is unpaid.

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission has planned an election Sept. 19 for one member of the board of supervisors of the Mahoning County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Voting will be at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield, from 6 to 10 a.m. Absentee forms can be obtained by a written request mailed to the MSWCD at 850 Industrial Road, Youngstown 44509 or by going to the MSWCD office at the same address.

The supervisor position is unpaid, and those elected have the responsibility to ensure that the district’s strategic goals and mission statement are honored in all of the district’s activities.

MSWCD’s mission statement is “to provide education and assistance promoting stewardship of natural resources for all generations,” according to its Web site, mahoningswcd.org.

The supervisor elected will serve a three-year term.

Some supervisor duties include attending monthly board meetings and participating in district activities.

The nominees are:

UChad Less of Green Township. Less is owner of Less Contracting where he practices conservation by installing retention ponds and grassed waterways and constructing wetlands. Less served in the Marine Corps from 1997 to 1999, is a member of Greenford Ruritan, Locust Grove Church, Ohio Land Improvement Contractors Association and the Mahoning Valley Home Builders Association.

URichard S. Scarsella of Boardman. Scarsella is president of the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society, an Idora Park preservationist, a columnist for area newspapers and educator with Youngstown City Schools. This year Scarsella was elected president of the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center.

UJoe Toporcer Sr. of Ellsworth Township. Toporcer has been employed with Agland Co-Op Inc. for 33 years and is currently the safety administrator. Toporcer has been a 4-H adviser for 25 years with the Mahoning County Market Livestock Committee, serves on the pastor-parish committee at First United Methodist of Salem and is a member of the Mahoning County Farm Bureau. For eight years Toporcer has served on the conservation district board and is the current vice president.

When selecting a nominee, the conservation district encourages voters to consider criteria including widespread knowledge of natural resources within the district, leadership ability, knowledge of people living within the district, interest in soil and water conservation affairs and the ability to volunteer enough time to adequately perform the job.

Mahoning County residents and landowners who are at least 18 and citizens of the United States may vote for one of the nominees.

For further information call (330) 740-7995.