Trumbull County Republican Party Chairman Kenneth Kline is being challenged for re-election by Martha Yoder, who also is running for county auditor, while it appears county Democratic Chairman Dan Polivka will be unopposed as he seeks another term.

Yoder said her slate of candidates for other party offices includes three who resigned from their positions in recent months under Kline’s leadership, with Kevin Wyndham, who was chairman until his February 2021 resignation, running for second vice chairman.

“People are disappointed with how Ken has run the party,” Yoder said. “It’s not personal. It’s about being extremely disappointed. I wanted him to succeed. We have a great slate of candidates (for the general election), but we don’t have the leadership and organization in place.”

The party will meet June 10 to vote for chairman and other officer positions.

Kline said: “If they vote someone else in, that’s OK. I still want to serve. I’ve done my best to have good people around me. I’m really thankful for that. What I’ve brought over the last year is a trustworthiness as a leader, and I’ve worked to be solid as a chairman. I’ve provided a forum for every candidate who wants to speak.”

Wyndham resigned in February 2021 as chairman after four years leading the party. He had taken the position away from Randy Law during an internal party struggle. He was elected to a full four-year term in June 2018. After his resignation, Kline, who is Newton Falls mayor and a pastor, was elected to fill the remainder of Wyndham’s term.

“The party is in better shape now than when I took it over,” Kline said.

Wyndham said: “I am disappointed with the evolution of the party since my resignation and sad for those involved that have been made to feel marginalized or alienated in that time period.”

If Yoder loses the chair race, Wyndham said he would withdraw as a second vice chairman candidate.

Wyndham said he’s been asked by at least 25 people in the party and some elected officeholders to run for chairman, but he’s not interested in the job.

GOP RESIGNATIONS

With Kline as chairman, the party has had five of its officers resign — all blaming his inability to lead for their departures.

Kline said, “I don’t have much to say about the resignations. We haven’t had much criticism. The central and executive committees have been supportive of me.”

Jacquelyn Loges resigned effective Sept. 12 as first vice chairwoman, Lori Hineman effective Oct. 15 as secretary and Barbara Rosier Tryon as of Oct. 15 as treasurer.

In a Sept. 8 joint resignation letter, they wrote: “The lack of awareness by (Kline) has resulted in a series of missteps followed by a series of unfortunate consequences.”

They staggered the resignations for an orderly transition. Kline said he didn’t take the resignations personally.

Lynda Hall Chos, the new treasurer, resigned March 20, writing in her letter that she was attacked verbally and threatened by a nonofficer of the party and Kline “made no effort to bring the meeting to order nor did any other officers present object” to the behavior.

That was followed three days later by a resignation letter from Gregory Scerbo as deputy treasurer because of “the eruption and disruption from the last officers meeting.”

Yoder said she is endorsing Loges, Hineman and Chos for their previous offices and Wyndham for second vice chairman along with Jo Anne Szczyglowski for auxiliary chairwoman.

“For the first time in recent memory, our party has the opportunity to be dominant in Trumbull County,” Yoder wrote in a letter to precinct committee members. “All that is missing is active and bold leadership. My team will provide that leadership.”

Yoder said she can balance being the head of the party while running in the Nov. 8 election for county auditor.

The party approved a change in bylaws in September not permitting its officers to hold elected positions. But it reversed that change in March allowing officeholders, such as Kline, to seek party positions.

“It was initially done too quickly,” Kline said. “I don’t care too much about Monday morning quarterbacking about complaining. My schedule is still very flexible where I have hours to give even though I’m busy.”

Robert Carr, first vice chairman, said people have told him “they want a change” as chairman, but he supports Kline.

DEMOCRATS

Polivka came under fire as chairman after the November 2020 election that saw him lose his county commissioner’s seat as well as other defeats of incumbent Democrats and a 10.56 percent victory for Republican Donald Trump in the once-reliable blue county. Also, a number of other Democrats won by smaller margins in Trumbull in 2020 than in past years.

Polivka, who has been chairman since 2010, said he is seeking another four-year term when the party meets sometime in June. The meeting will be scheduled shortly, he said.

As of Friday, Polivka is the only candidate for the position.

“During the (2020) election, a lot of issues got tied up with national issues,” Polivka said explaining the Democratic defeats. “I hope people will come back home” to the Democratic Party.

Polivka said he will send a letter shortly to precinct committee members asking for their support.

“We’ve got a lot of things planned and the officers are working well together,” he said.

Also planning to seek re-election are Kathy DiCristofaro as vice chairwoman and Karen Zehr as secretary.

DiCristofaro said she hasn’t heard of anyone challenging Polivka for chairman.

Mark Alberini, chairman of the county board of elections, said he also hasn’t heard of anyone challenging Polivka.

“I’m not putting forth any candidates to oppose Danny,” Alberini said. “I’ve always been a support of Dan as chairperson.”

If Polivka were to step down, Alberini said he would consider a bid for chairman.