Ed Stredney withdraws as write-in candidate for Niles mayor
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
The Trumbull County Board of Elections has verified that Niles Councilman Ed Stredney has withdrawn his candidacy as a write-in candidate for Niles mayor.
Stredney’s Facebook page said he decided Sunday to withdraw from the race because of the possibility that his job as a U.S. mail carrier makes him ineligible.
An attempt to reach Stredney to comment was unsuccessful.
The elections board planned to hear a challenge today to Stredney’s candidacy on the grounds that he is prohibited from running because of the federal Hatch Act, which limits most executive-branch employees of the federal government from engaging in political activity while on duty or in the federal workplace.
The act also prohibits such employees from soliciting or receiving political contributions, according to the website of the United States Office of Government Ethics.
An elections-board notice emailed Monday afternoon said the hearing is canceled because Stredney withdrew from the race.
Stredney, who has been on council for 10 years, did not seek re-election. His current term expires at the end of the year.
Other candidates for Niles mayor are Thomas Scarnecchia, the winner of the Democratic primary; and Barry Profato, another write-in.
“I am withdrawing my write-in candidacy from the ballot and will support the Democratic candidate, Tom Scarnecchia, in November,” Stredney’s Facebook post says. “Hopefully I can earn your support again in any future endeavors I may pursue.”
Patrick Kearney of North Road filed the challenge to Stredney’s candidacy. He attached copies of U.S. Postal Service documents with the complaint.