Perry Trustee Kendrick won’t seek re-election
Under Ohio law, Salem residents can run for Perry offices
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PERRY TWP. -- Trustee Don Kendrick said Monday he decided not to run for re-election, citing personal reasons for wanting to step away at the end of this year.
"I want to do some other things…do some traveling while I'm still able," he said.
A retired businessman who won his first full four-year term at the age of 68 in 2013, Kendrick will have seven years served as trustee when this term ends. He first joined the township government when he was appointed as the zoning officer in 2009, then he was appointed to the trustee seat vacated by now Commissioner Mike Halleck and won election to the unexpired term in 2011. In his last election, he was the second top vote-getter in a five-person trustee race which included a Salem city councilman, a Salem city council president and a former trustee who also served previously as Salem city mayor. The only person to get more votes was his fellow Trustee Don Rudibaugh, who filed to seek re-election again this year.
"It's been enjoyable -- it's been a learning experience. The hardest part of this job is trying to get things done," Kendrick said.
For a few years he did double duty, serving as both trustee and zoning officer, but now he said he's giving himself a break. He'll spend more time with his family, which includes his wife Donna, their child and two grandchildren.
He said he'll probably miss it.
Besides Rudibaugh, other candidates who filed for the two trustee seats include Jim Armeni Sr., Austin French, Joe Colian and Melissa Jakubisn. The Salem News received an anonymous package of information from someone questioning Armeni's ability to run for trustee since he lives in the city, but by Ohio law, he can run since the city is part of Perry Township.
Columbiana County Board of Elections Director Adam Booth confirmed that Salem city residents can run for Perry Township Trustee and Salem city residents can vote for township trustee candidates. The same is true in other communities as well, such as Fairfield Township and the city of Columbiana and Salem Township and the village of Leetonia. Because the incorporated areas are also part of the township, people in the incorporated areas get a say in who serves.
The only time that doesn't apply is when the two communities separate from each other, which Booth said is the case for Wellsville and Yellow Creek Township and the city of East Liverpool and Liverpool Township. Wellsville and East Liverpool residents don't vote for township trustee and can't run for trustee positions.
So, in the case of Perry Township, Salem city residents can run for trustee and vote for trustee. State law, however, does not allow for township residents in the unincorporated area to run for city government or vote for city government positions such as mayor or council.
By the same token, township residents won't get to vote for the city charter commission and city residents won't get to vote for the township safety levy. Another example would be the .25 percent additional income tax city voters approved a few years ago. Township residents had no say in the
issue. Residents in the unincorporated area of the township vote on their police and fire levies and pay those taxes -- city residents do not.
Rudibaugh said a lot of people are confused about that.
Township Financial Officer Susan Johnston, who lives in the city, pointed out that only elected offices in the township can be held by city residents. She said people who are appointed to the Board of Zoning and Board of Zoning Appeals have to live in the unincorporated area of the township -- they can't be city residents. The zoning officer, which is appointed, can't be a city resident.
Wolford was a township trustee for several years before he became mayor. He lives in the city.
The county elections board will have to certify petitions for the Nov. 7 ballot by Aug. 21.
mgreier@salemnews.net