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Semi-annual reports show two candidates for Trumbull sheriff having similar campaign accounts
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Howland Police Chief Paul Monroe and Sheriff Thomas Altiere are fairly even in the 2016 race for Trumbull County sheriff – at least in terms of campaign money.
They were required to file semiannual campaign finance reports Friday with the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
Monroe, who has been a police officer in Howland more than 30 years and Howland police chief the past 12, announced his candidacy in May. The spring primary is March 15, 2016.
Monroe turned in a campaign finance report last week indicating he raised $19,045 in contributions and had an additional $3,000 in “other” contributions from Canfield company Smart Buys Media, which returned a check his campaign had written to it for $3,000.
Monroe already has spent $12,904 and now has $9,437. Monroe started out this reporting period with $296.
Meanwhile, Altiere, sheriff for 22 years, had intended 2016 to be his last year in office but changed his mind, saying he can’t think of another job that he would rather have than sheriff.
Altiere started the current fundraising period with $1,639 and added $13,660 in contributions and spent $305. He now has $14,994 and in-kind contributions of $3,600 from a donor who provided food, beverages and rent in May.
Joseph O’Grady, retired sergeant with the Warren Police Department who is well known for his development of David Grohl Alley in downtown Warren, declared his candidacy for sheriff last November.
O’Grady raised money earlier than Monroe and Altiere, having $9,836 at the start of the current reporting period. He added $2,639 during the current period. He spent $4,864 and now has $7,611.
Ernest Cook, chief deputy with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s office who also is Trumbull County 911 director, also filed a campaign finance report by Friday’s deadline, indicating the report was for a run for sheriff during the primary.
Cook, of Brookfield, had $3,253 when the reporting period began and received no campaign contributions since then. He spent $1,034 and has $2,219. Cook did not return a phone call Friday seeking comment on whether he would still run since his boss is in the race.
Another of Altiere’s top managers, Maj. Thomas Stewart of the detective division and internal affairs, was interested in being sheriff but closed out his campaign account when he learned that Altiere had decided to run again, he said Friday.
The semiannual reports also provide a glimpse into the campaigns of several others thinking of running in 2016.
Gwen Logan of Farmdale, executive dog warden for Trumbull County and wife of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Andrew Logan, filed a report indicating a run for county recorder. Diana Marchese is the current recorder.
Logan started the fundraising period with $2,000 and added $4,100 in contributions and $2,500 in other income, spent $4,309 and has $4,291 to spend. Of the $8,600 provided to Logan’s campaign so far, $7,000 came from her.
Martha Yoder, Farmington Township trustee, filed a report indicating her intention to run for 64th District Ohio representative, a seat now held by Michael O’Brien. Yoder reports having $111 in her campaign account and having received $53 of in-kind contributions.
For 63rd District state representative, Hubbard Councilman Ben Kyle and McDonald Mayor Glen Holmes have started to raise money. The seat is held by Sean O’Brien.
Holmes started with $0, raised $13,975, spent $7,563 and has $6,412. Kyle started with $0, received $18,220 in contributions, plus another $5,000 in contributions of his own, and has $15,379.