Fiorenzo-Dibble assumes top post at Trumbull elections board

WARREN

The Trumbull County Board of Elections elevated its deputy director to the top spot and picked a 12-year employee to serve as deputy director during a board meeting Tuesday.

Jodi Fiorenzo-Dibble, a Democrat, deputy director since 2008 and a 22-year employee, was unanimously voted director.

Stephanie Penrose, a Republican and 12-year board employee who has been tabulation-system administrator since 2005, was elected 3-1 to be deputy director. Director and deputy director must be of opposite parties. Both make $57,093 per year.

Board member Ralph Infante, a Democrat who also is Niles mayor, voted no on the Penrose appointment because he preferred another candidate, he said.

Since Fiorenzo-Dibble, the director starting Sunday, is a Democrat, the board of elections elected Republican Kathi Creed to be board of elections chairman. The director and chairman must be of opposite parties.

Eleven Democrats, nine Republicans and five non-party individuals applied for the jobs.

Read more about the changes in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.