Jeswald-DiVito earns support

After more than 12 years as a trustee in Poland Township, Annette Jeswald-DiVito has a firm grasp on the workings government, is familiar with the needs and concerns of the community and has dealt with just about every conceivable problem that has confronted Poland.

It is this experience that leads us to the conclusion that she deserves to be re-elected to another four-year term Tuesday.

Jeswald-DiVito is being challenged by Eric Ungaro, who has previously run for Youngstown 3rd Ward council and Mahoning County commissioner, and Tony Sferra, who did not respond to The Vindicator’s request for information. While we find Ungaro’s enthusiasm and eagerness to serve the community refreshing, he cannot match the incumbent’s experience or knowledge and would need a learning curve were he elected.

Given the myriad challenges confronting government at all levels as a result of the national economic downturn, Poland doesn’t have the luxury of time to deal with its operating budget.

Indeed, as Jeswald-DiVito points out, the township has not had a tax increase for more than 30 years — voters turned down a replacement levy last year — and, therefore, has had to pursue other sources of revenue, such as grants, to finance projects.

Township park

The development of the township park is a major accomplishment, the incumbent contends, because it was undertaken without the use of tax dollars.

Township government is pursuing state and federal grants for other major projects, such as the installation of sidewalks and the alleviation of flooding problems. The trustees are working with the school district to pursue funding for sidewalks, and have been in contract with county government to address the accumulation of water in residents’ yards.

With Poland Township in better condition than many communities in the Mahoning Valley, we believe the incumbent has earned the support of the residents.