Mahoning GOP auditor candidate had ties to Steelers

BOARDMAN — The newly designated Republican candidate for Mahoning County auditor said this afternoon that, if elected, he’d bring to the auditor’s office 35 years of financial management experience.

“This is the right time for a full-time financial professional as county auditor,” said Ralph T. Meacham, of Lake Milton, who is a certified public accountant and was chief financial officer for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1988 to 1991.

Meacham was designated Sunday as the GOP’s replacement for Bill Reese, who withdrew from the race for health reasons.

In a news conference at GOP headquarters, Meacham said he’d offer county residents “a work ethic, guardianship of their taxes, transparency and complete integrity.”

Meacham is challenging the incumbent Democratic county auditor, Michael V. Sciortino, on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Sciortino is under indictment, charged with 16 felonies, in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal conspiracy case, in which he has pleaded innocent.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com