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FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP -- There are five candidates running for two seats on the Fairfield Township board of trustees on Nov. 7.
Incumbents, Trustee Chairman Bob Hum, Trustee Barry Miner and Andrew Williams face each other in one race. Trustee John Garwood and Bob Hall square off for the unexpired term of former Trustee Carl Garwood to which John Garwood was appointed.
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John Garwood
John Garwood has farmed all of his life -- more than life 40 years -- and has experience running a business and is an instructor in the Landscape and Environmental Design Program at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC). He is also feed and retail division manager at Agland Co-op.
Garwood has served on the Crestview Board of Education, Crestview Superintendent Advisory Council, Fairfield Township Zoning Committee, Agland Board of Directors, Columbiana County Agricultural Society and served as the buildings and grounds supervisor at CCCTC. He is a 1977 graduate of Crestview Local Schools and holds a professional vocational career license from Kent State University.
He currently serves with the 4-H, the Columbiana County Farm Bureau, the Crestview Soccer Club, Relay For Life, and is a FFA advisor.
He and his wife, Linda, have been married for 36 years and a have son, Zachary, who died of cancer at the age of 12. Their daughter, Leah, is an assistant manager of the Loft in Washington, DC.
Garwood's past public offices include Crestview Board of Education, where he served for seven years including on the buildings, grounds and audit committees, and his appointment to the Fairfield Township trustee board to fill the remainder of Carl Garwood's unexpired term.
Garwood said his qualifications include being a lifelong resident of Fairfield Township and owner of Zalea Farms which is an Ohio certified family tree farm and serving as an instructor of Landscape & Environmental Design Program at the CCCTC.
He is holds a building operator certification (BOC) and is an Ohio certified nursery technician.
He is a past president of the Farm Bureau Federation and was an Ohio Young Farmer of the Year.
Garwood said he is seeking to election because, "I feel that working and living in the area all my life, shows that I am committed to making Fairfield Township a better place to live and raise a family.
"As an active member of our community, I have demonstrated my role as a leader through the various positions I have held. This is my home and I welcome the opportunity to serve it in the capacity of Fairfield Township Trustee."
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Bob Hum
Attorney Bob Hum said he can't say enough good things about former township trustees Wilmer Swope and Carl Garwood.
"I was serving as legal counsel for the township when trustees purchased the property on Fairfield School Road in 2001," he said, adding he was elected to the board shortly after that and has served since.
He said a lot of trustees were given grief over the purchase by a small minority of residents.
"I remember being in a restaurant on several occasions with my wife and children when these shortsighted individuals would come up to the table and start drumming me with criticism about the purchase," he said. "They were rude and it was inappropriate behavior on their part."
Hum explained the purchase of the property "had perhaps the biggest impact on the township and the welfare of the citizens in decades."
Trustees didn't need to borrow money or ask for a levy. Capital improvements funds were established -- one for the building and grounds and one for equipment.
"We set up a rotation program where every year we purchase new equipment to replace older, outdated equipment," Hum explained.
"When I became trustee, meetings were held in a garage on Southern Avenue. There was one bay heated with a coal furnace which was used to thaw out the snow plows in the winter," Hum said, adding it served its purpose in the day but was not meeting the needs of the township as it grew.
He explained trustees set the goal of having all the equipment under roof. A first-rate garage and a pole building was built in 2005 for cold storage items not in daily use.
"We improved the administration building that was constructed in 1950. We built a salt and ash bin in 2005. After we tore down the school classroom building we built a large steel building in 2010.
"We built a liquid storage shed in 2010 and a fuel farm in 2010. These improvement were all accomplished without the necessity of borrowing money or asking the voters for money. The inheritance tax money that we set aside was used prudently."
After that, trustees removed two buildings from the one acre on Southern Avenue and used it for storage of road materials.
Trustees then bought two acres in 2006 and created a lake for a dry hydrant used by the three fire departments -- Columbiana, New Waterford and Leetonia -- that provide fire protection.
"A district fire levy provides funds for these fire contracts," Hum noted, and the township has a good relationship with them.
He also pointed out the township has had a zoning resolution but no comprehensive plan to go along with it.
"Without a plan, zoning is meaningless," he said. "We set up a comprehensive zoning plan to strengthen our zoning, which is more akin to land management with some rules. The township's zoning is not as restrictive as in some townships and cities where residents can be told what color to paint their houses."
Fairfield Township is mostly agricultural and "we need to keep this," Hum said. "My farm is a certified tree farm receiving certification form the U.S. Department of Agriculture. My farm will remain a farm."
Hum spoke highly of Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson who established a road reclamation program with a handful of townships in 2004.
For the purchase of road equipment, Dawson paid one half of the cost and the townships paid the other half. A five-year payment schedule was set up for the payments.
"This as been a real blessing in maintaining the roads in the townships whether it is chip and seal or blacktop," Hum said.
"Our road levies over the year have been either replacement or renewal levies, with renewals now on everything. The trustees haven't asked for any new levies and the public supports the renewal levies we request."
Hum said the township entered into aggregation programs for electric and gas in 2003 with voter approval with the electrical providing the biggest benefit as there isn't a much natural gas use in the township.
Hum pointed out the township employs private counsel to handle some matters and the prosecutor's office handles complex issues.
"A lot of the township matters I can take care of when people come in or call my office. It streamlines the process. I don't do emails or texts. I want to talk to people eye-to-eye, or on the phone.
"People know where to find me. I handle township business in my office every day. It makes for a better functioning government. We are fortunate to have an excellent road supervisor and road crew consisting of three full-time guys.
"Our part-time zoning inspector does an excellent job as well and both she and the road supervisor are quick to respond if I call them regarding a resident's question, concern or complaint.
"We are fortunate to have an exceptional fiscal officer, Pat Hoffmaster, who has been with the township longer than any of the trustees. I have relied on her and the insight she provides on many occasions. The township runs much more smoothly when there is the cooperation of everyone," Hum said, noting that he is not a politician.
"I dislike politics. I am a businessman and I get things done. I could care less if my name appears in the newspaper. I know who I am and am secure with that."
Hum explained that it was former Trustee Carl Garwood who recruited him to run for trustee.
"He didn't want me to run for any higher office," Hum explained. "This was our agreement and we accomplished a lot."
Hum said that what he submitted on his candidate questionnaire, "is what I have been doing since I have been a trustee. I have been giving 100 percent getting this done. I am the first and only Fairfield Township trustee to complete the rigorous three-year course and graduate from the prestigious Ohio Township Association Leadership Academy."
He noted it employs first-rate instructors in township issues, fiscal responsibility, management and law and provides invaluable expertise in understanding complex township issues and planning a sustainable future.
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Barry Miner
Trustee Barry Miner is running for a third term on the trustee board after being elected in 2010, "because I care about the people of Fairfield Township. My work experience is conducive to the demands of being a trustee," he said.
Miner worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation as an administrator in east central Ohio for 30 years. For the last six years, the graduate of Cardinal Middlefield High School, has worked in the oil and gas industry in western Pennsylvania and southeast Ohio.
Miner attended Youngstown State University and Kent State University. He is married to the former Lisa Chamberlin and they have two children, Bryce and Madison.
"I have worked in a leadership role my entire career," he said. "My background includes extensive experience in roadway construction, maintenance, repair, executing work plans, budgets, and mentoring employees to carry out the mission at hand."
Miner added he has "responsibly worked with government entities including state, county and townships for over 30 years to solve problems collectively.
"For the past eight years I have worked tirelessly to ensure that the needs of Fairfield Township residents are addressed and brought resolution in a timely manner."
Miner said he enjoys solving problems at the local level of government for the betterment of township residents.
"I have been honored to serve the last eight years as a trustee. First and foremost I have appreciated the support our residents have shown with our fire and road levies. Without these two levies our township would not be able to provide the level of service that we currently do."
Miner listed his accomplishments as having helped successfully execute Road Use and Maintenance Agreements (RUMAs) with the oil and gas companies, "ensuring that the Fairfield Township roadway system is protected and upgraded for the increased demand of the industry," he said.
He also pointed the way in managing and upgrading the roadway signage throughout the township with grant money from ODOT with over $37,000 spent on it with no township matching money.
He worked on creating a roadway inventory program including culvert, pavement management and roadway signage for future township employees to use and envisioned and established the Headwaters Nature Trail, mentoring to three Eagle Scouts for projects and Girl Scouts for merit badges.
"On numerous occasion I have brought ideas to the board that are beneficial to all of the constituents that I represent within Fairfield Township," he said. "With my past road and budgeting experience I am able to make decision with a professional and experienced approach, while at the same time keeping in mind that we are operating with taxpayer dollars.
"As Fairfield Township trustee I need to make financial decisions in a conservative manner that benefit Fairfield Township as a whole."
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Bob Hall
Bob Hall is making his second attempt at running for Fairfield Township trustee after obtaining 1,200 votes when he lost to incumbent Trustee Carl Garwood in 2015.
The Kingwood Drive resident retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 35 years with 30 in management and 26 years as the Columbiana postmaster. He served as a national auditor for the past two years for the postal service.
He is a graduate of East Palestine High School and Youngstown State University and has been married to Terry Henderson for 44 years. They have two children and three grandchildren.
He served on the Columbiana County Planning Commission for two years and was the East Palestine golf coach for six years.
Hall says his qualifications with the U.S. Postal Service and his position as postmaster and "experience in working with the public gives him the knowledge and experience to serve as a trustee."
"I was responsible for a substantial budget each year and supervised many employees during my tenure as postmaster," he said. "During my tenure as postmaster, and through the efforts of great employees, our office was continually recognized for outstanding service to the public."
Hall said he was seeking office, "… because I see an opportunity to serve our community again and be involved in what I think is a great future for our area.
"I would also like to thank the over 1,200 residents who voted for me in the last election and gave me the encouragement to run again for this office."
Because of his years in working with the public and serving it in a respectable manner, Hall said residents should vote for him.
"I have good knowledge of the area and a track record of solving problems and making sound decisions. After the last election I also felt that a lot of residents agree that a change is needed, it is time for a new voice and a new outlook. I want residents to know I will be very impartial and will do what is best for Fairfield Township and its future.
"I would just like to say that I think Fairfield Township is a great area to live in and raise a family. I would be honored and welcome the chance to become a trustee for the township."
The Salem News did not receive a candidate questionnaire from Andrew Williams.