Coalition drops challenge to fracking amendment

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Coalition for Job Growth and Investment has withdrawn its challenge to the legality of the city's latest anti-fracking charter amendment.

The announcement came at about 5 p.m. during a standing-room-only meeting of the Mahoning County Board of Elections. A largely anti-fracking audience of about 50 cheered the announcement.

The coalition had previously announced it had hired Lavelle and Associates to challenge the legality of the proposal.

The Athens law firm successfully persuaded the Athens County Board of Elections last month not to certify a similar citizen-organized proposal for the city of Athens’ November ballot. That success is why the firm was hired, Tony Paglia, vice president of government affairs for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, said at the time.

The Youngstown protest was originally filed on behalf of five city residents: George Popovich of East Florida Avenue, Tom Loney of Burma Drive, Rosemary Miller of West Indianola Avenue, Robert M. Ogden of Heather Lane and George Cintron of Greeley Lane.

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