Dozens turn out for Austintown trustee candidate forum

Roughly 75 voters filled the Stacey Pavilion at Austintown Township Park Wednesday night to hear for themselves which of the four trustee candidates had the best ideas for them.
The seat came open after former trustee Steve Kent got sent to jail for tampering with evidence in a sexual abuse case.
We asked each one, starting with former trustee Warren 'Bo' Pritchard, about their biggest priority should they get elected.
"Having a community that has strong police, strong fire and good schools," Pritchard said. "If you don't have those three things, you're not bringing people into your community to live."
"Possibly losing three department heads to retirement, which would be a huge issue, said Bruce Shepas. "The fire levy is going to be very important as well. That's what I think we need to address first."
"Improving the services, all of our services, and the biggest issue we have right now is applying and salting of the roads during winter," said Eric Vereb. "It's a basic service and it needs to be improved."
"My biggest priority would be business development, said Andrea Paventi. "I think, I hear a lot of complains that all we get are car washes and dollar stores. I think it's important to go after businesses, court them and tell them about Austintown and why we need them."
Another important priority for whoever wins - moving the township forward from the Kent scandal.
Each candidate had a different perspective on that.
"Mr. Kent should've offered to resign over issues that are that serious," said Pritchard. "The township, Austintown Township doesn't have anything to do with the job he was doing and when he was doing it."
"Restoring that integrity, being a family man, running a successful business, a business owner for 17 years with Austintown Bounce, being on the zoning board of appeals for seven years, developing new business in Austintown," said Shepas, describing his background. "That's how we're going to make a different. I'm going to make that difference."
"Unfortunately we just got to get better candidates running and better candidates in office to just move on from it," Vereb said. "I'm tired of there always being a black cloud over the township."
"I think we'll just move on," Paventi said. "With (current trustees) Monica (Devers) and Robert (Santos) in there along with a new trustee, we'll get some new priorities and move forward and eventually it'll be forgotten."
The people of Austintown will decide for themselves in less than a week.