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Three candidates vie for two Boardman trustee seats
BOARDMAN
Three candidates are running for two seats on the township board of trustees in the November general election – incumbents Thomas Costello and Brad Calhoun and political newcomer David Moliterno.
In interviews and candidate questionnaires provided to The Vindicator, Costello (who served as trustee from December 1999 to December 2005, then took office again in January 2010) and Calhoun (running for a third-consecutive term) emphasized accomplishments from their previous terms and work they’d like to continue, such as ongoing construction of a new fire station and the upcoming transition to a new police chief.
Moliterno, who is a first-time office seeker, focused on his concerns about the local economy and said he thinks a fresh perspective is needed in local government.
“What is prompting this [run for office] is seeing the change in the economy,” said Moliterno (a relative of Trustee Larry Moliterno’s).
Moliterno said he is concerned about issues such as the future of the Southern Park Mall, the fate of big-box stores and properties in the North Market Street corridor.
“We lose those stores, we lose the economy,” he said. “The whole [Mahoning] Valley is going to suffer because of it.”
The incumbents, however, said township officials keep a close eye on local businesses and development.
“Am I concerned about the mall closing? Goodness, yes,” said Costello. “But the mall has advised us they are here to stay.”
“What we have to do is work with what we have. We work very closely with the mall,” said Calhoun, noting recent building upgrades in which the mall invested.
Due to Boardman’s landlocked position, Moliterno said he thinks redevelopment is key to sustaining the local economy.
Redevelopment is something on which township officials have put an emphasis in the last few years. For example, redevelopment is ongoing at the plaza at the corner of U.S. Route 224 and Tiffany South Boulevard.
Township officials also have said they’d like to be more proactive about economic development. When they hired a new zoning director last summer, for example, they added economic development duties to the job.
Both Costello and Calhoun identified finances as an important election issue.
“The cutbacks from Columbus have cost Boardman close to $4 million a year,” Costello said, noting factors such as the elimination of inheritance-tax revenue. “We’re doing the best we can.”
“We’ll be fine this year. And we’ll be fine next year. But we will have to make some big decisions” in the future, Calhoun said.