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Trumbull elections board seeking second director in 7 months
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
The Trumbull County Board of Elections is again looking for a director after accepting the resignation of Jodi Fiorenzo Dibble.
Fiorenzo Dibble submitted a resignation letter Aug. 8, saying because of “my ongoing illness, I can no longer physically perform the duties of my job.” Her resignation was effective Wednesday, but she has not been at work since sometime in June.
Fiorenzo Dibble, who has worked for the elections board for 221/2 years, became director in late January after former director Kelly Pallante retired.
Pallante has since returned to work for the board on a temporary basis to help out in the absence of Fiorenzo Dibble.
Stephanie Penrose, a 12-year employee, was elevated to deputy director at the same time. Fiorenzo-Dibble is a Democrat, and Penrose is a Republican. Director and deputy director have to be of opposite political parties, so whoever replaces Fiorenzo Dibble also must be a Democrat.
Board members praised Fiorenzo Dibble for her hard work and expertise in technical areas involving computerization and modernization of the board’s equipment.
“It’s so sad. She was so excited to become director,” board member Ron Knight said.
The board will accept applications for the director and deputy director positions from Saturday until the end of next week.
The board certified all the levies for the November election but removed six candidates because of problems with their petitions.
They are James W. Jones Jr., Liberty Board of Education; Robert L. Baugher Jr., Southington Board of Education; John L. Robbins Jr., Bristol Board of Education; Randy L. Bolton, Mesopotamia Township trustee; William H. Pinn III, Warren Board of Education; Robert T. Palmer, Weathersfield Board of Education.
The board also decided to hold off on purchasing electronic poll books for precinct voting until at least 2016. One reason is the loss of staff in 2015 with five retirements, including the retirement of Fiorenzo Dibble.
The elections board staff also has reduced the number of precincts by 12 for the November election to 158. The board reduced the number of precincts by 38 for the May primary.