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Precinct committee members to appoint new councilman
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Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti
YOUNGSTOWN
A new Youngstown City Council 4th Ward member will be appointed Dec. 21.
That person will replace Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, elected Nov. 2 as a Mahoning County commissioner.
Rimedio-Righetti said she’s resigning as a city council member at the end of the legislative body’s Dec. 15 meeting. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2011.
The county Democratic Party precinct-committee members in the 4th Ward will meet at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at party headquarters to vote on who will replace Rimedio-Righetti. There are 13 precinct committee members in Youngstown’s 4th Ward.
Those interested in the seat must send a letter of interest by Dec. 18 to county Democratic Chairman David Betras at either party headquarters, 3321 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown 44509, or by email to dbetras@bhlaws.com.
Two candidates, so far, plan to seek the appointment.
Michael Ray, 33, of Division Street, is a salesman for United Sciences Testing Inc., an environmental testing company. Rimedio-Righetti is supporting Ray.
Milan Zordich, 71, of South Hazelwood Avenue, who retired in 1995 after 26 years as a city firefighter, also wants the appointment.
Though Ray and Zordich have publicly stated their interest in the appointment, Betras said they still must send him a letter by the Dec. 18 deadline.
The person appointed to the position will hold it until the term expires Dec. 31, 2011.
Feb. 2 is the deadline to file nominating petitions with the county board of elections for the May 2011 primary ballot. The winner of the November 2011 general election will serve a full four-year term, beginning January 2012.
The position pays $28,083 annually with full medical benefits.
The 4th is the most populated ward in the city and includes the upper portion of the West Side.
Rimedio-Righetti had planned to resign Dec. 31, but moved it to Dec. 15.
“It’s difficult to try to learn [the county commissioner’s responsibilities] and go to the different [county] offices and keep up with the city [work],” she said.