ELECTION UPDATE: Incumbents win for Youngstown council

Two incumbent Youngstown council members, including one appointed in December, emerged victorious in the Democratic primary.

Councilman Mike Ray, appointed six months ago to fill an unexpired term representing the 4th Ward, easily turned back two challengers.

Ray received 61 percent of the vote compared to 34.9 percent for Milan E. Zordich and 4.1 percent for George Doward. Howie Edwards, a fourth candidate, withdrew from the race before Tuesday’s primary.

In the 5th Ward, incumbent Councilman Paul Drennen received 34.2 percent of the vote, the most among the six candidates in the Democratic primary.

Losing to Drennen were former state Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr., who finished second; ex-Councilman Michael R. Rapovy, a distant third; and school board member Anthony J. Catale in fourth place.

Drennen captured 34.2 percent with Patton getting 23.1 percent, according to final-but-unofficial results.