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Councilwoman Righetti officially resigns
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Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti
YOUNGSTOWN
While she’s no longer a Youngstown council member, Carol Rimedio-Righetti, a Mahoning County commissioner-elect, said she won’t be far away.
“I’ll just be moving next door,” she said. City hall and the county commissioners’ office are near each other. “If the city needs me, I’ll be there to listen. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll be there to listen and help.”
Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, officially resigned after Wednesday’s council meeting. Her replacement will be appointed Tuesday by the Mahoning County Democratic Party precinct committee members of the city’s 4th Ward.
Rimedio-Righetti begins a four-year term as county commissioner next month. She defeated 12-year incumbent David Ludt of Poland in the Democratic primary in May and Republican Don Manning of North Lima in the November general election.
Rimedio-Righetti got choked up when reading her resignation letter to conclude Wednesday’s council meeting.
Council members said they will miss Rimedio-Righetti as a colleague but are excited to have an ally on the board of county commissioners.
“We need better representation at the county,” said council President Charles Sammarone. “That’s the only reason I’m happy to see [her] go.”
Rimedio-Righetti will “work a lot more with the city of Youngstown than we’ve had before,” said Councilman Paul Drennen, D-5th. “She believes in regionalization and can bring people together.”
Rimedio-Righetti was first elected to city council in 2003. She was re-elected in 2007, the same year five council members who had never held elected office before won their races. The other member of council elected in 2007 was John R. Swierz, D-7th, a former longtime councilman.
Rimedio-Righetti “was good at pointing us in the right direction and helping us along,” said Councilman Jamael Tito Brown, D-3rd.
“She helped make a smooth transition for us,” Councilman DeMaine Kitchen, D-2nd, added. “She knew what to ask and what to look for.”