Trumbull elections board names new director

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.

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.

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

Since Fiorenzo-Dibble, the director starting Feb. 1, is a Democrat, the Board of Elections elected a new chairman, Republican Kathi Creed, to be board of elections chairman. The director and chairman must be of opposite parties.