Niles’ fiscal problems cast pall over Infante’s bid for re-election

Absent an official statement from the Ohio Auditor’s Office that the ongoing investigation of Niles city govenrment includes the mayor’s office, residents have no way of judging Ralph Infante’s veracity.

The mayor, who was first elected in 1991, insists he is not a target of the probe by the auditor’s special investigation unit and, in fact, sought the state’s involvement.

Infante contends that the state-declared fiscal emergency, in effect since October of last year, is the result of the city’s auditor and treasurer not reconciling the books and, thus, not providing the mayor and council with a true picture of the city’s finances.

In fact, Infante says he became concerned about the city’s fiscal health in 2010 after he saw a decrease in government’s investment income and took steps to deal with the anticipated shortfall. One of his main actions was to leave 22 vacancies unfilled.

As we said at the outset, without an official word from the state, voters in the May 5 Democratic primary must decide if the mayor is telling the truth, or if his challenger in the primary, Thomas Scarnecchia, a former city councilman and safety director, has a case to make.

Scarnecchia contends that the mayor is ultimately responsible for Niles’ financial collapse and that he’s deflecting blame by pointing the finger at the auditor and treasurer.

It is a fact that a former employee of the treasurer’s office was found guilty last month of theft in office for taking about $142,000 from the city, while another is accused of taking $731 from the city’s billing office.

After so long in office, Infante has a record that voters can evaluate and judge.

In his interview with The Vindicator’s Editorial Board, the mayor said he has improved the city electric department, built a senior center and a fitness center, improved the parks and built sidewalks and curbs on the city’s main roads.

“I still want more development on 422 and downtown,” he said. “I want to continue to bring new industry in and keep the income tax growing.”

Budget analysis

If elected, Scarnecchia said he would “totally tear through every department, every piece of the budget ... .”

Among Scarnecchia’s goals are to concentrate on bringing businesses to all of the city, not just along U.S. Route 422, and to redevelop commercial properties.

Infante has the clear advantage in this election, and the voters have expressed their support for him in every election since 1991.

Given that the state probe is ongoing and that there is no indication the mayor is a target, we would be hard pressed not to support him for the Democratic nomination.

The Vindicator thus endorses Infante — with the hope that he will step aside if, in fact, he is named as a person of interest by the Ohio Auditor’s Office.