YOUNGSTOWN — Austintown Township Administrator Mark D’Apolito said he will file nominating petitions Tuesday for the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judicial seat currently held by R. Scott Krichbaum.

“Serving as judge has always been a career goal of mine,” said D’Apolito, a Democrat. “It’s a desire to do more in my community, Mahoning County, where I’ve called home most of my life. I want to have a meaningful impact on people. Everything I’ve done in my career has been about protecting and building our community. Being a judge is a great way to affect people who come before you and on our larger community.”

D’Apolito was hired in April 2023 as Austintown administrator. Before that, he spent five years as a county assistant prosecutor and previously worked as a Youngstown assistant law director.

“I’m excited to continue public service,” D’Apolito said. “I’ve had many years of working as a public servant and I look forward to this opportunity.”

D’Apolito comes from a family of judges. Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony D’Apolito is his first cousin while David D’Apolito, a former 7th District Court of Appeals and county court judge, is his uncle and Lou D’Apolito, a retired common pleas court judge, is his father’s first cousin.

Krichbaum, a Republican and the court’s most senior judge, cannot run for reelection this year because of the state’s age-limit law on judicial candidates. Krichbaum was first elected in 1990.

Ross T. Smith of Boardman already filed as a Republican to succeed Krichbaum.

Smith’s voting record shows he has consistently voted in Democratic primaries since at least 2012.

A 20-year attorney, Smith started Jan. 12 as Krichbaum’s magistrate.

Smith said: “With my experience and ability I’ll be a good fit for judge.”

Krichbaum said Smith will be a “fine magistrate” and an “outstanding judge.”

Feb. 4 is the filing deadline for those wanting to run in the May 5 political partisan primary while those seeking the positions as independents have until May 4, the day before the primary, to submit nominating petitions.