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Fuda, Allen vie in Trumbull race
An (*) denotes the incumbent.
Democrat
FRANK FUDA*
Age: 64
Home: Niles
Education: Master’s degree in administration, Youngstown State University; bachelor of science degree in education, Youngstown State University; Niles McKinley High School graduate.
Family: Wife, Darlene; daughter, Tawnya; sons, Frank II and Tony; and stepsons, Drew, Ken and Steve.
Priority: “Four years ago, I promised to scrutinize the budget and cut wasteful spending. We have been successful in cutting well over $1 million of wasteful spending my first three years in office. I will continue to work with our staff and other elected officials to make our county even more efficient over the next four years.”
Republican
MARK D. ALLEN
Age: 49
Home: West Farmington
Education: 1979 Warren Harding High School graduate; completed training for Ohio insurance license.
Family: Wife, Lisa; three children.
Priority: “To turn Trumbull County into a mecca for small business.”
WARREN
Trumbull County Commissioner Frank Fuda says the number of residents with septic problems is a source of concern, but the way the county’s elected officials and employees have worked together in his four years in office is a source of pride.
Fuda, 64, a Democrat, retired schoolteacher and former Niles councilman seeking election to a second term, said the county has taken advantage of contractors’ willingness to work for a low price and built $35 million worth of Trumbull County sewers during his time in office.
In cases where residents are faced with the need to replace their septic system, Fuda says county officials have done what they could to reduce the cost or allowed the homeowner to make temporary improvements until sewers were installed.
Fuda’s Republican opponent is Mark Allen of Geauga-Portage Easterly Road in West Farmington.
Trumbull County government has continued to operate without much controversy and strife because elected officials and employees have been cooperative, Fuda said.
During the economic crisis of the past two years, most Ohio counties have had to make significant cuts, but Trumbull County has kept a balance of $8 million to $10 million by keeping employees on a wage freeze and cutting expenses wherever possible, Fuda said.
Contracts for most county workers expire in 2011, so officials are negotiating with workers now, and the county commissioners want workers to take another wage freeze in 2011, Fuda said.
“I think most of the union people realize now is not the time to break the system,” Fuda said.
Allen said he agrees that county officials have worked cooperatively and that wages for county workers should remain frozen in 2011.
But Allen, a general contractor and self-employed insurance salesman, who brings no previous political experience to the campaign, said he can speak for the average “guy on the street — I’m the guy who works on his car on the weekend, the guy leaving for work early every morning and getting home late at night.”
Allen said he thinks there’s a better chance of landing jobs in Trumbull County by focusing efforts on small business rather than “always trying to land the big fish.”
Allen said he will “think outside the box” as county commissioner — for instance, using grant money to encourage people to invest in wind power. Allen said wind power could be applied even on the senior-citizen buildings around the county.