Elections board gives Youngstown council another reason to save taxpayers' money

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Board of Elections, which will reduce the number of voting precincts by at least 50 for the November election, will offer proposals to Youngstown officials on redistricting the city’s seven wards.

There is no cost to the city for proposed ward maps, and the board is following up on a request from Mayor John A. McNally for the information, Director Joyce Kale-Pesta said Friday.

The board plans to reduce its 273 voting precincts by at least 50, said Kale-Pesta and board Chairman Mark Munroe, who also is the county Republican Party chairman.

A staff proposal on the consolidation will be finished by June and in front of the board the following month, Kale-Pesta said.

Also, Kale-Pesta said she wants to meet with McNally and city council members before a final board vote to discuss Youngstown redistricting options.

Redistricting has been a source of contention among council members, and between some members and McNally.

McNally along with Councilmen Mike Ray, D-4th, and Paul Drennen, D-5th, support maps provided by the Youngstown State University’s Center for Urban and Regional Studies provided about nine months ago. The work cost $3,854.

The other five council members want a second opinion and voted Wednesday to hire Triad Research Group of Westlake to develop redistricting plans at a price range of $7,500 to $10,000.

But McNally said his administration will not hire another company for work when the information provided by YSU is satisfactory.

Read more about the dispute in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.