Petitions filed to recall mayor

By ED RUNYAN

runyan@vindy.com

WARREN

Phillip Beer of Newton Falls says the dynasty of power that Newton Falls Mayor Pat Layshock has enjoyed for most of the last 18 years may be coming to an end within the next six weeks.

Beer, a one-time councilman, has submitted petitions to the Trumbull County Board of Elections to have Layshock recalled.

Layshock said he has no comment on the recall effort.

The elections board is expected to decide Tuesday whether the petitions contain enough valid signatures and whether the petitions were drawn up correctly to get the measure on the ballot.

Beer submitted 252 signatures to the elections board July 26. State law requires 195 valid signatures, said Kelly Pallante, elections board director.

If the petitions are certified, Newton Falls City Council will be required to set a date for a recall election during the second, third or fourth week of September.

A candidate or candidates to fill Layshock’s position would need to submit petitions containing 130 valid signatures to the elections board no later than 20 days before the special election, according to Ohio law.

Beer said there are a couple of people interested in filling Layshock’s position.

The recall of an elected official — which is allowed only in cities with a charter form of government (Newton Falls and Cortland are the only two in Trumbull County) — has been used successfully several times in Newton Falls in the last 20 years.

Beer said Layshock, whose father also was mayor of Newton Falls, has used his position to get rid of city managers, law directors and other city officials many times over the years, but the citizens are tired of his maneuvers.

Specifically, many citizens Beer has spoken with are concerned that Layshock is planning to get rid of the current city manager and police chief.

“If we don’t stop them, they’re going to drive the city bankrupt,” Beer said of Layshock and his supporters.

“I’m tired of recalls, but [Layshock] has pushed us to such a point where we don’t have a choice,” Beer said.