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BUTLER TOWNSHIP -- There are four candidates running for two seats on the Butler Township trustee board on Nov. 7 including Carlton Cope, Matthew S. Hall, Thomas G. Sanor and Eric Stitle. The terms are for four years.
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CARLTON COPE
Carlton Cope has been the owner of the Tractor Depot, Inc. since 2001. He previously held a seat on the Columbiana County Fair Board.
He resides on Depot Road with his wife of 15 years, Laura, and they have two children, Hadley, 5, and Hayden is three.
Cope listed being a Butler Township resident as qualifications for office and said he expects to be an active township resident. He is a high school graduate and said he is very ambitious and successful.
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MATHEW HALL
Mathew Hall works for the Ohio Turnpike Commission on highway maintenance and was employed by Butler Township road department as road foreman for five years prior.
From 1994-2000 he owned and operated Outdoor Specialties Landscape Company.
Hall resides in the 4700 block of Holmeswood Drive in Winona. He is a 1992 graduate of United Local High School and a 1996 graduate of Kent State University with an associate's degree in horticulture.
He currently participates and assists with his children’s 4-H club's activities such as volunteering to serve at the Winona Volunteer Fire Department's breakfast fundraisers, assisting with the concession stand at the annual auction at the fairgrounds, and helping to set up and tear down stalls in the junior fair areas.
Hall and his wife, Beth have been married for 18 years and have two children, Logan, 16, and Grace, 12.
As a political newcomer, Hall says he qualified for township trustee because, "I was employed by Butler Township road department for 16 years and have owned and operated my own business for five years.
"During my employment with Butler Township, I learned to work with the township budget to maintain and improve the roads. Also, I worked with the trustees to implement grants and attended workshops put on by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
"While advancing my career in highway maintenance with the Ohio Turnpike Commission, I would like to bring some new ideas to the township as well as support the successful programs that currently exist.
"I have experience working with a board as I served on my church board and on their new building committee. I am committed to our community and I miss working among the residents of the township. This position takes time and effort, being a township trustee is more than attending two meetings a month. I am willing to take the time and put forth the effort to serve the township residents."
Hall said he was involved with many accomplishments when he worked for the township.
"All roads in the township are hard surfaced and maintained with the chip and seal program and road reclamation project that happens annually. As well as use of new products such as micro seal, asphalt preservations and lock down on chip and seal roads."
He said while with the township they eliminated one-lane bridges and narrow culverts and implemented several other road improvements such as removing dangerous hill tops and clearing obstructions from intersections.
His biggest attribute and qualification is experience, he said.
"This is one thing that the majority of the other candidates do not have. I have done the job of those I would be overseeing. I know what it takes to get the work done during both summer and winter. It takes a long time to gain the knowledge that I can bring to the township. I am familiar with the roads and where the problem areas are.
"I have worked with the residents and past and present board of trustees to make our roads and equipment some of the best in the county, all while working within the budget.
"I know if I am elected I will do my best for the taxpayer and residents of Butler Township. I will strive to have an open line of communication at all times so we can work together for the good of our community.
You will see me out checking the roads and addressing problems."
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THOMAS G. SANOR
Work History
I have been self-employed for 32 years – Tom Sanor - Builder; 12 years Terry Rufer builder; 1 year Robert Coffee Heating
Education
Graduate of West Branch High School - 1966
United States Navy Veteran
Graduate - Ohio Township Association Leadership Academy – 2015
Current
Community Involvement
I have always been actively involved in the community. I have 33 years of perfect attendance with the Winona Ruritan Club, serving two years as vice president and two years as president. I have 20 years of active involvement with the Ohio State Township Association and 20 years in our own Columbiana County Township Association. I am a lifetime member of Willow Grove Grange and a lifetime member of NRA. I have been a member of UCT - Salem Council #590 for 46 years and have served two terms as Senior Counselor. I've been a member of Columbiana County Farm Bureau for 40 years and have supported the Columbiana County Jr. Fair livestock sales and 4-H clubs since I was a participant many years ago. In addition, I serve on the Building and Grounds committee for Bethel United Church of Christ.
Family
Married to Jackie with 1 daughter, Shelley (Erik); 2 sons, Thomas (Shanie) and Robert; 3 step-sons, Ryan, Brent (Dawn), Thad (Brittany); 1 step-daughter Billie Jo; and 7 grand kids, Andrew, Nicole, TomiMarie, Colton, Kipton, Kenzie and Amelia.
Have you previously
held elected office?
Yes, I am running as an incumbent with 20 years of experience as Butler Township Trustee.
Have you ever been
appointed to a public body?
Yes, I was appointed and have served as Board Chairman of Woodsdale Cemetery since 2002, appointed steering committee representative for Butler Township since 2004, and appointed chairman of the nominating committee for the Columbiana County Township Association since 2010. I am very proud of the work of this committee because we have brought forth a slate of officers over the years who have been very productive and represented the county association at a very high standard.
What are your
qualifications for the office you are seeking?
I am the incumbent with 20 years of experience as Butler Township Trustee. I have maintained my township expertise by attending many Ohio Local Technical Assistance Programs across the state. Through the Ohio Township Association (OTA) I have recently completed the Course of Study and did the Washington D.C. Fly In, hosted by the OTA. I was one of thirty Leadership Academy graduates, receiving my diploma and being recognized at the OTA winter conference in 2015 before 1500 attendees. In addition, I am a lifetime resident of Butler Township and come from a family that has been dedicated to serving the needs of the township. My father and grandfather were very active in Butler Township, and I've been told that my grandfather hauled stone with his team and wagon from the Salem train depot specifically to fill the muddy ruts on the one lane Georgetown Road. We've come a long way since then, and I have been instrumental in obtaining grants to accomplish many goals of the township.
Why are you
seeking office?
I still have many more improvements to accomplish and many projects in progress. I hope to be able to help the next generation of trustees become prepared to take over. I have been blessed to work with many outstanding colleagues who have worked together with me over many years, especially our clerk, the late Marilyn Winn and trustees like Homer and Wayne. I want to continue to provide leadership to Butler Township - and like these colleagues, leave Butler Township a better township than when we arrived.
If incumbent, please
list your three biggest
accomplishments.
I believe one of my most major accomplishments is the service I have provided to the people of Butler Township. One of the fundamentals of being a trustee is that a trustee is elected by the public to administer services provided by the township. When I receive phone calls from very concerned homeowners concerning an issue, to that person, it is a huge accomplishment to be able to find a way to alleviate their concern and fix the issue. I am dedicated to serving the people and responding to their concerns. In addition, during my tenure, we have focused on safety improvements, such as, improving sight and stopping distance at our intersections, for example, the intersections at Butler Grange and Winona Road. We recently applied for, and received a grant for 75 percent of the funds needed to replace the one lane bridge (#198) on Woodsdale Road, with thanks to the Columbiana Community Development Office, the County Engineer and Commissioners. Next summer, work will begin on a failing cross pipe on Tower Road. (Pipe #110) Grant money will pay for this construction, saving the township thousands of dollars. In addition, in my 20 years, we have resealed well over 200 miles of township roads.
Please state why
voters should elect you
over other candidates.
I will continue to provide quality service with a willingness to be there for anyone with a township concern. In addition, my experience has allowed me to develop a significant network of county level and state level personnel who can assist our township. I have the contacts to get the information and support we need.
Is there any other
information you would
like us to consider?
We have recently applied for and received a grant in the amount of $21,384.00 through the ODOT Township Sign Upgrade Grant Program. You will soon see bigger and brighter signs throughout the township. Current projects also include the installation of a new aluminum flag pole at our beautiful Woodsdale Cemetery, and we continue to seek input on the construction of a shelter for the cemetery. Our township has over 250 cross pipes, many of which were installed before 1960. Our goal is to repair or replace all failing cross pipes prior to the road reseal projects. Next year we should receive our State Issue II grant monies and the board will apply the funds to permanent improvements on township roads.
I am sincerely thankful to have had the opportunity to serve the people of Butler Township for twenty years. I thank them for their votes and for the great support I have received. I look forward to serving for the next four years.
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ERIC J. STITLE
Eric J. Stitle, 33, is a project estimator/manager for Stitle Construction from 2006 to the present and resides in the 2600 block of McCann Road.
He is a 2002 graduate of Salem High School and graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2006 with a bachelor's of science in technology (construction management)
He and his wife, Jana, have two daughters, Tenley and Taci.
Stitle is a political newcomer and has not been appointed to any public offices.
He says his qualifications for the office lie in the 11 years he's resided in Butler Township.
" I have been in the construction industry my entire life. I understand not only field work related to construction, but also the daily operations of business (payroll, insurances, accounts payable, accounts receivable, operating general ledgers, etc.).
"I believe that this knowledge is relevant to our township in all aspects such as roads, equipment, building maintenance, cost budgets, and allocation of tax dollars."
Stitle says he is an organized, energetic leader who is passionate about his community and wants to continue maintaining the beautification and safety of roads; to be fiscally responsible and accountable with township funds and to protect the integrity of our community.
He wants to create a more public atmosphere of the township by getting our meeting minutes posted online along with the township's checkbook online via ohiocheckbook.com.
Asked why voters should elect him, Stitle said, "I feel my educational background and career field lends to this position and can help me carry out visions of our township community members.
"I want to put my knowledge and expertise in the areas listed above to good use to benefit our community. The wide range of my attributes seems to be closely correlated to the description of this position.
"As a passionate and very personable person, I enjoy working with others to accomplish tasks at hand and feel very strongly about this, along with my previously mentioned skills, will make me a successful trustee of Butler Township.
"I feel that all candidates running for this office are well known, hardworking, and self-disciplined individuals throughout our community.
"Butler Township is a beautiful place to call home due to the past and present elected officials within our township. I would like to give many thanks, not only to the current township trustees, but also to the employees of our township for doing a wonderful job keeping our township a beautiful place to call home. Good luck to all candidates."
lshields@salemnews.net