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« Opinion
Ditzler, Davis in Austintown
Ditzler, Davis in Austintown
In a conversation with David Ditzler, it doesn’t take long to see that he doesn’t take anything about his job as an Austintown Township trustee casually. He’s knowledgeable as he talks about the progress that has been made to reduce township spending. And he’s realistic about the need to save more in the future, to promote economic development and to strive for regional cooperation, especially in the use of one of the district’s greatest assets, its water supply.
Ditzler, a 52-year-old sales manager for a metal-plating company, is seeking his fifth term as a trustee and earned The Vindicator’s endorsement in this election.
And the others are ...
Three others are also seeking two seats on the board of trustees that will be decided in the Nov. 3 election. They are Warren “Bo” Pritchard, 53, a lawyer and the other incumbent; Samuel Swoger III, a 61-year-old retiree who has run twice before, and James Davis, 32, a former deputy who went into the hospitality industry after cutbacks at the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department.
We’re endorsing Davis, who is relatively young, but has experience in both police work and business and has been working part-time at the Milton Township Police District.
Swoger declined an invitation to an endorsement interview, and Pritchard indicated an interest in coming in, but it never came to pass.
Davis convinced us that he not only chose to live in Austintown, he wants to do his part to make it a better community.
Like Ditzler, he recognizes that the biggest challenge facing government in this area is funding and that the only route to prosperity is by attracting new business and providing a high level of service at the lowest possible cost.
The Vindicator endorses Ditzler and Davis because we believe they are equal to the task.
- Requires free registration.
Comments
And what has Pritchard done NOT to deserve re-election? He agrees with Ditzler on just about everything. Perhaps it is because he is a, dare I say it, a Republican.
Double "D". What is this paper thinking about when they endorses people??
Davis, look hard and you will find someone who is not what they say. Look at his slogan. Cop, yea right. Look into this and his past and the voters will be amazed at what they find. Ask a few questions about his employment record and personnel past and see why he made the change.
Ditzler, DITZ when it comes to "what he has done" for Austintown. Of the three sitting trustees Lisa Oles is the hard working FULL TIME trustee. We need more full time trustees to look out for Austintown.
Bo, were are you Bo?? As I recall we never see you and we are lucky to see you make it to meetings on time. You have to go...
I say time for a change. Out with Bo and Dave. I don't like the past record of Davis. Swogger, well he is trying to do it and I like what I hear. He says he will be full time, gave his cell number out on channel 19 for anyone who has questions, I called, he answered. I don't have a second pick to fill two slots, but we need a change in Austintown.
I disagree. Our township is not in a fiscal mess like Boardman. We should be thankful for the 3 trustee's for that.
All the Trustees cell phone numbers on on the Township web page and have been for years open your eyes!
Did you see full time Sam's answer on channel 19 on what experience he has to handle a 14 million dollar budget? He said his wife handles all his financial work, he cannot balance a check book !!!
I guess piwohio doesn't know anything about Townships. There is no such thing as a full time trustee, you can sit at Township hall for 24 / 7 but you cannot direct any enployees, that can only be done at a meeting with a board majority vote. Read the ORC / Townships... Unless full time Sam needs to spend that much time learning how to balance a check book !!! In charge of 14 million dollar budget, not from my vote.........
I re looked at the interview on channel 19. I was concerned I did not see what ATown stated. I saw Swoger making a joke about the check book thing. I am sure that he has not run a 14 million dollar budget. But with time and training and a team of trustees who care it can be done. As far as you attacking me about not knowing about townships, get a life ,,you have no idea what I do know. I do run a multi million dollar budget. Want the proof, just ask to meet me in person. I also oversee several budgets for groups in the area.
Full time to me is someone who will answer the phone and respond when needed. I am not saying Swoger knows it all, heck who does. Even with my background I would have to learn. Do you know it all?? Doubt it. Swoger is and has been involved in Austintown for many years. Let the record speak on who goes to meetings, listens and offers advice. Even after he was defeated, he stayed involve in a positive manner.
Davis- just look at his past. Easy to find information on anyone. What is found is not pretty. Not someone I want running our township. I live in and love Austintown. I just want the best for it and the future. And how many meetings and committees has he served on ??
While you are at it, why not question the Youngstown-hating Ditzler, and other Austintown politicians, as to why they see it necessary to put their campaign signs on the front yards of citizens on the YOUNGSTOWN side of Meridian Road?
Mr. Ditzler, you are a typical two-faced politician, you bash Youngstown, and whip your residents into a frenzy over non-existent plans to annex your township, thereby ruining Mayor Williams attempts to secure JEDD money, and jobs for the area, but then you play nicey-nice with it's citizens to further your political gains. What a piece of work you are!
piwohio, I like how you elude to a checkered past with Davis, yet offer up nothing concrete. You must be good friends with Swogger to be able to cross that line into dirty politics to get your guy elected. Unless you can offer something real, don't keep trying to drag someone's name through the mud just for the sake of making your guy look better.
I guess with enough training you can teach pigs to fly!! But do we really have the time and is it the other two Board members responsibility to train someone who says they are qualified? Someone with no private sector experience or education to transfer to the position!! Especially with 5 Union contracts up for negotiation this year, and a budget shortfall from state cuts looming! Heck that bartender from Holiday INN that is running is more qualified!! As for Youngstown and the JEDD's get a life I attended the Town Hall Meeting that the current Board of Trustees had to inform the Township. Thanks to them we avoided the JEDDS that wanted to take our current business's and charge their employees a 2.750% income tax to continue to sell us their water, that's blackmai not development!! The Youngstowner is just upset that they are not represented by Williams as well as we are by Oles-Ditzler-Pritchard...........Move to Austintown...
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Atown,,,READ I live in Austintown. I agree they (current trustees) have to this point done a good job with JEDDS But it is not over. Yes the contracts are coming up. I supported the Police levy and support them and giving them the best equipment out there. I support the Fire Department. I support paying employees a fair wage for work that is measured in quality and quanity.
Training,,,well I guess YOU JUST KNOW IT ALL. RIGHT??? Who trained Lisa Oles ( I support her 100%), Boozen "Bo" and Ditzler??? Oh they must have just known all aspects about the job. Ask them. Or is this BO or David writing?????
Lets just get down with this Davis , Yea, I support Swoger. I am sick of the Bo crap. How many times do we have to think, when is the next time Bo is going to get picked up for DUI or DWI. Heck what are we at 3 right now?? Davis, checkered past with a report sitting in Austintown PD for some serious stuff. How many times has he lost his badge??? A couple ???? Why????
Play the game and split the votes all you want, FACTS ARE FACTS. I will give you the $0.75 for the report on Davis. And a hotel manager,,,,just tons of expierence there. Someone who SLAMS the A.P.D. with his slogan. Austintown has some of the very best officers in the state. And great leadership. The same goes with the AFD. And many other departments.
Do the homework and read what these people are about.
My ticket will read : SWOGER, DITZLER
The things you allude to about Davis were completely unfounded. You are grasping at straws by trying to suggest there is something more there than there really is. If he is so bad, then why is he on the OVI task force? Why would the sheriff's department hire him back for that?
What is Swogger's experience? The fact that he has run for this position so many times?
He doesn't slam the APD with his slogan. He speaks the truth. Atown used to be a premier place to live, now people consider us a step above the YO. And don't try and be like no one thinks that, because that would be just burying your head in the sand to ignore the truth. Someone gave you a load of misinformation and tried to stir up crap on Davis because he wants to change this town for the better. If you wanted to know the truth, you would have called up Davis. Instead you try and blur the lines here on Vindy to make Swogger look like he is the better choice. He is not. He was not all those other times he ran, he definitely is not now.
Dave Ditzler needs to stay. He knows what he is talking about and handles the running of this township very well. Bo needs to go. He is out of touch with the reality of our township.
ATownParent, Let me ask one question, Did you read the report? If the answer is no, then you can not even comment on this. If you did, you must be blind. Be for real that it was unfounded. You must have read a different report than me. It was not unfounded, it was dropped by the victim, like 78% of these are. Why FEAR!!! Explain the badge incidents? You failed to do that. Easy for you to just attempt to brush them off as "unfounded".
Lets talk of the "Law Enforcement experience". Is that 9 years full time or should he state 3 years total full time, with admin duties being the better part of that 3. No way can he say 9 full years of time on the job. He keeps saying this. Back it up with employment records. Or is he playing security guard at the hotel???? Does that time count???
And by the way, Davis's flyer, if that is what you call it, list three things he is involved with, And to drive like a mail man and place them in the newspaper bin. A little tacky...
Swoger on the other hand is a people person who speaks with the people of Austintown. He understands the issues. He list over 30 committes, leadership training, GM committees, local groups, committes ect.. he has served, still serves on.
The Davis slogan, go ask any one of the Austintown officers and ask them. You will get a YES or NO COMMENT. And if you feel Austintown is just a step above YO, why are you still living here. Take off the blinders, I see a school system that is getting better and is still going that direction. I see a 911 memorial that stands out like a fine gem in the tri county area, I see a township that has low crime, professional employees, great services, and a place I call home. Has the times hurt us, yes, but you need to pull your head out and look to the future and be a part of something. Take ownership. You support Davis, but slam Austintown. How is that supporting him? And tell me what he wants to do to change the town? I have not heard anything. Again I ask what has Davis done for Austintown?? 21 years , what has he done, committee(s) he chaired, # of meetings he attended, Shall I go on!!! List them.
We do agree that BO needs to go. And Davis, I don't have to stir, the truth speaks volumes. It's on paper my friend. Or are you suggesting that the APD took false statements, I DO NOT THINK SO!!!!!!
Davis, you might as well come clean on the report. I heard it is going to be copied and circulated throughout the township right before election. So before you advertise that you are going to Restore Austintown's Reputation, I think it's time to restore your own my friend. If I were you, I'd start thinking about damage control NOW!
I did not see any police report on Davis, but all I know is if it were something bad it would have lead to something or some charges being filed, or the Police screwed it up, which would it be? As for full time Sam, he ruined the fourth of july committee, he was removed as president of the little falcons in disgrace, and now he is in the process of doing the same to democratic club. We cannot afford to let him destroy Austintown. Vote anyone but Swager!!!
http://www.rateitall.com/i-2682842-austi...
ATown,- You have to be blind. You did not see it.Did you go to the APD and ask?? I will give you a copy, Tell me where to mail it. Or better yet I hope this report will get copied and passed out. I like that idea. It is public information. I told you I would give you the $0.75 to get the copy. Read my post, 78% drop the complaint due to fear and having to go through the trial ect... Now, as I knew you would want to put this on the APD. Again I support the APD 100 %. Stop the bleeding my friend and admitt you support someone who has a tainted past and just can't do the job. You REFUSE to answer the questions I have put to you And you are a SUPPORTER of Davis. Or again I ask is this BO or Dave???
Swoger has not ruined these things. Present the evidence. Or is this your feelings??? See I write about FACTS and can back them up. You write out of FEAR and NOT KNOWING.
Look at wipohio,,this person is on the money. Look at foxtrot,,click the link. AUSTINTOWN is a wonderful place to live. But you say ( as a supporter of Davis) that we are a step above YO. How wrong you are.
Well my time is done,,,you have not a clue what you write, REFUSE to answer the questions, You just write to write.
SWOGER for TRUSTEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PIWEE, The only rambling fool is you!! I say nothing about Youngstown and Austintown, again you are as mixed up on everything as Sam. I only tell you the facts as a member of the Falcons.... Full Time Sam was removed as an officer.... Facts are facts, Sam has not a clue as to how to run anything only ruin everything........If he's your choice I say move to Youngstown......
You should read more carefully, Atown.
To Atown parent:The above comment was posted only to make sure I had the correct info before writing a full comment. The fact is, my daughter was one of his victims. You obviously are either related to the jerk or are one of his die-hard followers who are convinced he's a rockstar. God knows he doesn't need more fans...he's his own biggest one! The reports are true, and the reason charges weren't pressed is the same as always. It's the victim who gets dragged through the mud, and 9 times out of 10 the perp goes free anyway. Not to mention the fact that he was in "law enforcement" ( I nearly gag when I use that term, If people only knew what goes on at the sheriffs dept they'd be amazed). That "thin blue line" is always in play. I believe Mr. Davis would be surprised at his fellow officers who stuck up for him in front of him and then told the truth behind his back. He actually said the age-old" she said no, but she didn't mean it"!! You can stick up for him all you want, but I've known him for years, and if someone would have told me had a side this dark I would have called them crazy too. He is a monumental ASS and a danger to women everywhere. I hope he never has to see his new little daughter go through what mine did due to his sickness. In fact if I were his wife, I'd watch that child closely. You need to quit drinking the kool-aid.
I have stopped drinking the kool-aid. I was told lies and believed them because I thought I had known this person. I am sorry for you and your daughter. No one should have to be put through that.
Unfortunately, Atown, alot of people believed the lies. He has a way of convincing people he's something he's not. I don't know if you actually read the report, or just got in touch with someone who knows the truth, but I have photos of my daughters bruises after he was done with her (as do the police).They don't lie. They're nothing compared to the damage to her psyche. He grew up with my daughter, we've known him for years. He told her he wanted to show her how he had finished his basement. Why would she think twice about going with him? But at the end of the day, some well paid lawyer would have said she willingly went to his home, and that would be that. Ultimately, I'm glad you now know the truth. Unfortunately, he's our new trustee and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about that. If I can make him think twice about running for anything else in the future, then at least that's something. One thing is certain...I will NEVER let him get through another election of any kind without everyone knowing what he's done. I wouldn't vote for him for dog catcher, I would be in fear for the dogs.
WOW, wish you would have told the story a month ago, perhaps you would have saved someone elses Daughter!
alsgal35...please contact me. Six other women have come forward. It is not too late for your daughter to pursue this. She was not an isolated case as she may believe. PLEASE work with me to make sure he does not take office in January.
I am happy that Davis was elected to be a trustee in this town. He has lived here his entire life, and regardless of his past, he has always been about this community and everything in it. I am sorry if there were some bad choices made on his part, but I am a firm believer in the past being just that, the past. Regardless of the "thin blue line" you all speak of, he is a respectable young man. If there was any fact to these incidents that you all speak of, there would have been repercussions that go along with it. Everyone makes mistakes in their lives - are those of you condemning him admitting to being perfect with no skeletons in your closets? I think everyone has secrets, it is just a matter of who knows about them. Some people are better at hiding the truth than others. Let the man lead his life, with his family... he is a newlywed with a new baby, and he is committed to this position. I think you all should give his poor wife, who just gave birth, a little credit. If he was the monster you make him out to be, do you think she would have married him three years ago, and do you think she would have given him a little girl? Again I say, we all do things we may not be proud of, but all of these mistakes are what make us see what is important. It was a fair election, and he won. Leave it alone. If you were so adamanet about pursuing these "wrong doings" why wait until now?
spelling correction -- adamant, not adamanet.
Mistakes 6+ times, really? are you insane? Do I feel sorry for his wife and new baby? Of course. Do I think that is a good reason not to go forward in making him face the repercussions of his actions? Absolutely not. Do I think women make dumb mistakes constantly and marry men for all the wrong reasons like his wife did? YES! She was engaged and married to him for more than 1 of the attacks!! I watch my girlfriends marry and stay married to their lying cheating pig husbands by the boatload. So YES I do think she still would have married him even knowing of his sick tendencies. Women can be pretty sad when it comes to thinking they can't do any better. I should hope you come up wit ha better reason for us to forgive Jim for his "indiscretions" as you like to call them. These are crimes Atownlives, not mistakes or indiscretions. Get it straight. The gig is up for this guy. Word is out ladies, strength in numbers, dont be scared you are not alone. Your local police dept. is awaiting your call.
The above poster is EXACTLY why People like Davis get away with doing what they do. Rape is a little lapse in judgement???? And as for his "poor wife", how many women make really poor choices in men, have kids with them, then somewhere down the road have an epiphany about what a mistake they made? She picked him, she has to live with that. As for waiting till now to bring this up, well, that's two-fold. First, you want this swept under the rug out of concern for poor Jim. MY concern, not that you apparently care, was and is for MY DAUGHTER! Try real hard to wrap your head around that. SHE was the victim here. And NOT THE ONLY ONE. He is a serial rapist.Period. Secondly, Attempts were made to bring this knowledge to the public way before election day. The vindicator, in their infinite wisdom, chose to ignore it. I would have let it go had he not had the arrogance to run for public office. He could have just crawled into a corner and lived his life. As we all know, rape is about power. He got away with it multiple times. Now he needs to see his name in print, be a big wheel in Austintown. Well, he went too far. NOT ON MY WATCH! And to all the women he attacked after my daughter, I'm sorry. Iwish with all my heart I would have blown the whistle a long time ago, against my daughter's wishes. I can't go back, but maybe I can stop it from happening to another woman.
ATOWNLIVES ... You call it "bad choices", "incidents", "mistakes", "skeletons in your closet", "secrets", and "things we may not be proud of". You are using these casual words to dismiss RAPE. Call it what it is, don't sugar coat it. And rape is not something where you say "the past is the past" and move on. Especially when it is a serial rapist.
I graduated with Jim. I know his wife. She is a nice girl who has been through a lot. My guess is she has no idea of the extent of these allegations. I feel terrible for what she is probably about to go through, especially with a young child. None of that excuses what happened.
I'm all for people having a chance to defend themselves and Jim will get that chance. From what I understand there are a lot of very similar accusations from people who don't know each other. That will be hard to explain away.
Shame on the vindicator for endorsing this guy when they knew these accusations existed. Shame on Atownlives for trying to explain away rape as a "mistake". You should spend less time spell checking and get your head checked.
Atownlives is obviously a friend or family member. The only other explanation for that kind of loyalty is pure stupidity. And arrogance equal only to Jims.
fitchgrad -- I am by no means excusing RAPE. I think it is a horrible crime, but were you personally involved? As far as I am concerned, what did or did not happen is all hearsay until he is convicted of a crime. I find it comical that people can do everything they can to try to ruin someone via the Vindy chat room... if there were stones to your accusations you would have done something about it outside of the chat room. Make no mistake, i do not think that rape is an excusable crime, nor do i think that it falls under the category of "bad judgement" or any of the things I discussed in my earlier post, but I do think that rape is a VERY puinishable crime, so why has Mr. Davis not been convicted of anything? I do not need to "forgive him" for anything, because no one has proved that ghe has done anything wrong! I just find it very hard to believe that there are that many "alleged" victims, but yet he has not been convicted of anything? There is a part of this story I think everyone is missing, and it could be the difference between the lie and the truth. I do not need my head examined, and for the record, I am a mere acquaintance of the Davis family -- I do not know them very well, but what I do know of them has been respectable. So no, I am not friend or family member -- nor am I stupid. I think you should find a better way to channel your anger and regret for not doing something about a serious crime than slandering someone on Vindy.
atownlives - come on now, it was crystal clear from the earlier posts that he was being accused of rape and yet you come on and post 10 different words for "mistake" and say things about "the past being the past". Now you say you know rape is serious and you were just pointing out that the allegations haven't been proven. Maybe you should re-read your original post.
I agree 100% that he should have a right to defend himself. But you are being incredibly naive if you think just because he hasn't been convicted of anything that nothing happened. The US DOJ estimates that only 36% of rapes are reported. In this case there have been 6 reported, just not charged. When the attacker is (was) a member of law enforcement it isn't hard to figure out why they were less likely to pursue charges.
It's disgusting that this supposed newspaper endorsed him without looking into allegations that were given to them before the endorsed him.
ksjfd
Here is my thought process......I find these allegations odd. I can't help but question the motives (if any) behind bringing them up now. I realize that it is the ignorance of the community for not researching their candidates, but really, it is hard to believe.
I, like many, have known Jim and Chrisy for years from school. Maybe it is because I don't want to believe it that I am trying to be the devil's advocate. I guess I just wish that there was a solid piece of proof that could be posted here--a pdf of the report or something.
It is killing me to think that the community elected someone that would intentionally hurt others. It is killing me to think of how Chrisy must be feeling right now. I just wish I knew the truth.
Ok, people, I don't know how to make it any more clear. How humiliating do you think rape is for the victim?? These people have lives, jobs, families. There are numerous people who have posted here who have seen the police report and the photos. He also lied. On one report, he claimed he never saw her that night. On the other, he said it was consensual. I know it's hard for some to believe it about a person you've known for years. Their dark side doesn't emerge to everyone. Put yourself in the victims' place. It's not like on TV where they talk the victim into testifying, and the guy goes away for a long time. Not quite so easy in real life. Oh, you think you know how you'd handle it, but you don't really know until it happens to you. As for motives, are you dense?? It's hard to move on with your life when the jackass throws it in your face by running for public office. Trust me when I tell you that we would LOVE to forget everthing about him. He did this with his arrogance by running for office. I, too feel for his wife. However, some of these things happened while she was with him. I think I would have taken a real hard look at the guy I was with if he faced these kinds of allegations. If you think the motive is 15 minutes of fame, rethink. We've spent 3 years looking around every corner trying to avoid seeing him. Atown isn't that big. We've kept to our selves and my daughter has suffered in silence, as I'm sure the other victims have. They probably somehow think it was their fault. Well, he made a big mistake putting his mug out there and asking for a vote. Sorry, folks, enough is enough.
Algal....I am sorry, I mean no disrespect. I guess I am just the type that believes in the goodness of people. It sickens me to think that I may have helped a man get elected to office that could have done this.
Do I feel bad for the victim? Hell yeah! I feel awful. I realize that I am going back and forth on the issue, but damn,...I can't help but NOT want to believe it. However, why would you or anyone else here lie?
Thank you, I understand how you must feel. It would be so nice to believe in the good in people. I don't know if all the victims will be willing to come together as a group, which would be good. There is strength in numbers. But again, the stigma. I will just pray for all of them to do what they feel is right.As an aside, you referred to helping a bad person get elected. True story... As my husband and I walked to the polling place, the last guy standing by the entrance was a man with a giant Davis sign. My husband said "what have you got there?" pointing to the sign. He said "That's my man! I grew up with Jimmy". My husband said " MY daughter is the one he messed over", to which the guy replied "Yeah, I heard. That's too bad". Is it just me that finds this disturbing? But, that's why he won.Even the people who know just don't seem to care.
And to Atown lives...I'm sure he has very nice parents. He also apparently has quite a few friends. But keep this in mind. EvenTed Bundy seemed like a swell guy and had friends and family who loved him. And don't question how many "stones" I have. You may get to find out before this is all gone away. Let it be known I'm circling the wagons.
Circle the wagons for sure and slam him hard, I wish I had herard this before the election, although I still didn't vote for him. Not sure how you and your husband hold back from physical harm to him.