FRANKLIN SQUARE — Salem Township voters retained incumbent John Wilms and selected newcomer Joe Merritt to serve as Salem Township trustees in Tuesday’s general election.

Wilms and Merrit secured their seats among a field of four candidates, according to complete but unofficial results.

Wilms secured the most votes with 608 (32.41%) voters casting their ballots for him. Merritt secured the second most votes with 455 (24.25%) votes, closely followed by Bill Heston with 426 (22.71%) votes, and Nancy MacKenzie receiving the least votes with 387 (20.63%).

Wilms is a 1964 Leetonia High School alum and has served as township trustee since 1986. Wilms also owns his own business, Wilms Topsoil, and is a founding member of the Heritage Day Park Committee.

Merrit holds a degree in auto diesel technology from Nashville Auto Diesel College, a degree in technical workforce development from Bowling Green State University, and a teaching licensure as a Medium/Heavy Truck Technician and teaches diesel power equipment at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center. Merrit serves as a board member for Leetonia Youth Athletics.