Tax issues emerge for Democratic Party's endorsed choice for 7th Ward

YOUNGSTOWN — John Vivo, the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate for Youngstown council’s 7th Ward seat, has numerous court filings against him for failing to pay taxes and other bills.

Vivo owes $14,176 in unpaid property taxes to the county for his home on East Boston Avenue, his flower shop on Southern Boulevard and a house he owns next to his business, according to the county auditor’s website.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of common pleas court issued a decree of foreclosure on Jan. 26 in favor of the county on Vivo’s Southern Boulevard house.

Court records show a dozen other cases filed against Vivo for failing to pay state sales taxes, state tax liens, state workers’ compensation fees, and certificates of judgment related to other unpaid bills.

The records date back to 1992.

Also, court records show Vivo was found guilty in 2005 of operating a vehicle while impaired.

“When your business is as quiet as can be, you have trouble making payments,” Vivo said. “I’ve had water, gas and electricity shut off on my house. I owe back taxes.”

Vivo said if he wins the 7th Ward council race, he’d use most of the salary he’d receive to pay his taxes. Council members are paid $27,817 annually.

Seven of eight members of the county Democratic Party’s executive and central committees in the 7th Ward voted to endorse him Wednesday. The other vote went to Basia Adamczak.

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