EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - The Village of East Palestine has just named its new village manager.

The village named Antonio Diaz-Guy as its new village manager. This comes after former village manager Chad Edwards resigned in October of 2024 citing "too many divides."

According to a press release, Diaz-Guy is a lifelong native of the village and brings a deep-rooted passion for the community, a wealth of experience and a forward thinking vision to the role.

Diaz-Guy is quoted in the release saying this is not just a title, but a deeply personal and meaningful opportunity.

"Though I grew up in Negley, East Palestine was always the center of my world. Some of my best memories were made here [like] watching the town from the front window of Guy's Bakery, strolling through the summer car show and exploring the park during the autumn craft festival. Now, I have the privilege of shaping the future of the town that shaped me," Diaz-Guy said.

According to the release, Diaz-Guy's key priorities as village manager include strengthening public services and economic opportunities, encouraging a business-friendly environment to attract new investments, enhancing transparency and communication with residents and ensuring efficient and practical governance that delivers results.

"There are a lot of moving parts in this village. Before implementing change, it's essential to understand how everything fits together. By working collaboratively with residents, businesses and local leaders, we can build a stronger future for East Palestine," Diaz-Guy said. 

Diaz-Guy graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in economics and philosophy. He is now just one class away from completing his masters degree in business administration from Youngstown State University.

Outside of formal education, Diaz-Guy credits his diverse life experience growing up among educators, laborers, farmers and business professionals with providing them a well-rounded perspective that blends theory with real-world practicality.