Struthers City Council: 4 candidates vying for 3 at-large seats

Staff report

STRUTHERS

Four candidates, including three incumbents, are running in the Democratic primary for three at-large seats on Struthers City Council, and there are challenges to incumbents in the 1st and 4th Wards.

Incumbent Daniel Yemma, 53, is running for an at-large seat.

Yemma, on council for 12 years, is a lifelong resident of Struthers.

He is Mahoning County Chief Deputy Treasurer.

“I’ve operated as a successful business owner in our Valley, which allowed me to experience first-hand the challenges involved with our area and provides me with practical experience dealing with issues, especially financial, confronting government operations,” Yemma said.

Major issues, he said, include maintaining services with no increases to taxpayers.

He also said he prioritizes development in the brownfields area and favors saving money through regional collaboration among local governments to provide services.

Incumbent Michael Patrick, 53, is also running for an at-large seat.

Patrick was precinct committeeman for 8 years and was a district leader for the Democratic Party for 11/2 years.

He is a mechanic for Ohio Edison.

Patrick said his top priority is the city’s aging main fire station. He also said the budget is a priority.

“[I will] continue to work with the administration to balance the budget in this economic condition,” he said.

Incumbent Ronald Mathews, 73, is also running for an at-large council seat. He has been a councilman at-large for 20 years.

Mathews said his priority is to keep the city solvent and to obtain grants for streets and other improvements.

The fourth candidate for the at-large seats, Danny Morgan, did not respond to the Vindicator questionnaire.

In the 1st Ward, incumbent Tony Fire, 67, is facing previous council president Anthony Protopapa.

He said balancing the budget is a major issue.

“I think everyone wants a clean, safe city to live in,” he also said.

He also said he will continue to hold frequent ward meetings and will concentrate on keeping its Block Watch going.

Protopapa, who didn’t give his age, is the owner of Anthony & Sons Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning. He was a councilman from 2001 to 2005 and council president from 2005 to 2009. He was a Canfield police officer from 1994 to 2004.

“I have used my experience as a legislator, police officer and businessman to promote professional and sound decision-making,” he said. His top priority, he said, is to better enforce property maintenance codes within the ward.

Incumbent Robert Carcelli III, 30, is an exercise physiologist with Jump Stretch Inc.

He said he plans “to continue to be visible and accessible to the people of the 4th Ward.”

He said that as chairman of the public utility committee, he will seek out ways to help residents lower their utility bills.

His challenger, Brian J. Bryjma, did not respond to the Vindicator questionnaire.

THE CANDIDATES

At-Large

DANIEL YEMMA

Age: 53

Home: 232 Center St.

Education: Youngstown State University graduate with a bachelor of science in business administration and master’s in business administration, Struthers High School graduate, 1976.

Employment: Mahoning County Chief Deputy Treasurer.

Family: Two sons, Dan Jr., 28, Vince, 26.

Priority: Being fiscally responsible, reducing expenses.

MICHAEL PATRICK

Age: 53

Home: 527 Poland Ave.

Education: Struthers High School graduate.

Employment: Mechanic at Ohio Edison.

Family: None

Priority: To deal with the city’s aging main fire station.

RONALD MATHEWS

Age: 73

Home: 587 W. Omar St.

Education: Struthers High School graduate. Thirty-nine years in business.

Employment: Retired.

Family: Wife, Pat; daughter, Shirley Mathews Burgham; son, Ronald Mathews.

Priority: To keep the city solvent and to obtain grants for improvements.

1st Ward

TONY FIRE

Age: 67

Home: 25 Sells Ave.

Education: Attended Bowling Green State University, Struthers High School graduate.

Employment: 1st Ward councilman

Family: Wife, Judy; daughter, Shawn; son, Anthony Shane.

Priority: Keeping communications open in the 1st Ward, keeping the Block Watch going.

ANTHONY PROTOPAPA

Age: Not given.

Home: 135 Creed St.

Education: Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, 1994. Attended Youngstown State University. Chaney High School graduate, 1979.

Employment: Self-employed, owner of Anthony & Sons Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning.

Family: Wife, Linda; son, Anthony C., daughter, Alessandra.

Priority: To better enforce property maintenance codes.

4TH WARD

ROBERT CARCELLI III

Age: 30

Home: 400 Geneva Ave.

Education: Youngstown State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology.

Employment: Exercise physiologist with Jump Stretch Inc.

Family: Wife, Erin; son, Robert D. Carcelli IV; daughters Alyssa L. and Angelina L.

Priority: To help residents save on their utility bills.