Campbell council president, commissioner candidate rants about yard sign

October 7, 2016 at 12:02a.m.

CAMPBELL

City council President George Levendis, also a candidate for Mahoning County commissioner, used the miscellaneous remarks section of Wednesday’s council meeting to rant about an opponent’s yard sign.

Levendis, of Campbell, a Republican, is running against incumbent David Ditzler of Austintown, a Democrat, for a four-year term.

“Listen, I know signs don’t vote and, trust me, I’m the last one to care about signs,” Levendis said on the council floor. “But when you see a sign from someone that was part of the city for a lot of years, and he’s not supporting one of his own who only has done good in the city since I’ve taken office. My track record speaks for itself. Nobody’s track record is like mine and ... my numbers are there. But when he has the audacity to put my opponent’s sign in his yard, that makes me wonder, does he really have the best interests of the city of Campbell [at heart], all the years he was down here as one of our mayors. In my eyes, no. ... Now, I ain’t mentioning no names, but everyone sees I’m getting mad,” Levendis said.

When pressed on the issue, Levendis later acknowledged he was referring to a Ditzler sign in Jack Dill’s yard. Dill served five terms as the city’s mayor from 1999 to 2009. He could not be reached for comment.

Levendis added, “My heart is in this for the right reasons. It ain’t about money. It’s about doing what’s right for the city of Campbell. And when I get down there, because I’m going to win on [Nov.] 8th, again, my heart will be here and I can only help us.”

A representative from District Council 6 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades also spoke during the meeting to announce the chapter’s endorsement of Levendis.

In other business, council approved a deposit-fee increase for use of the community center. The deposit fee is now $100, rather than $50. The rental fee is still $300. Clerk of Council Dina Hamilton suggested the change because damage to the community center from renters often exceeds $50.

Additionally, council OK’d the installation of seven new streetlights on U.S. Route 422 for no more than $10,000, using state funding, and approved the renewal of an $18,000, six-month contract for the city’s property specialist.

Council is reviewing legislation to purchase two replacement police cruisers from the village of Lowellville for $8,500. Money for the cruisers will come from a fund furnished by fees and property confiscated by the police department, Finance Director Michael Evanson said. That fund has a balance of about $22,000.

“If anybody’s curious how we’re paying for it, again, we can thank the criminals in the city of Campbell for paying for these two cruisers for us,” Levendis said. “Any criminals out there, thank you very much.”