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AUSTINTOWN -- A township official has drawn criticism for a political mailer that residents received last week.
A postcard went out to Austintown residents urging them to vote to retain Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova in the Nov. 5 election. DeGenova is running against defense attorney Lynn Maro.
The card is signed by police Chief Robert Gavalier and includes a picture of him standing with DeGenova. Gavalier is wearing plain clothes in the photo.
The mailer states: "I have known and worked with Prosecutor Gina DeGenova and her team of lawyers for nearly 20 years. Prosecutor DeGenova is honest, tough, and serves the residents of Austintown Township well."
It concludes by stating that the community is better off with DeGenova in the office.
DeGenova is the Democrat in the race and Maro -- although records indicate she has voted Democratic in the past -- is registered and running as a Republican. Gavalier is registered as a Democrat.
Austintown Township trustees have sent out a letter stating that the chief's opinions -- or those of any other township employee -- do not reflect those of the township.
The letter signed by Trustees Robert Santos, Monica Deavers and Bruce Shepas states that the township "recognizes our employees' right to participate in the election process and exercise their First Amendment rights. With that said, any views expressed by employees are their personal views and do not reflect the views of the township."
The letter goes on to state that "the township is not permitted by law to endorse any candidate or issue. ... Accordingly, Austintown residents should be assured that Austintown Township remains committed to a fair election and campaigning process."
Trustee Bruce Shepas on Friday said neither he nor the other trustees have any comment beyond what is stated in the letter.
Gavalier could not be reached for comment, but DeGenova weighed in.
"I am puzzled by the press release issued by the Austintown Township Trustees in response to my political mailer featuring Austintown Township Police Chief Bob Gavalier," she said in a written statement to The Vindicator.
"Quite frankly, I question the motives behind the press release since the Township failed to issue similar statements after Trustees Robert Santos and Bruce Shepas were pictured alongside my opponent and / or (Mahoning County) Commissioner Candidate Geno DeFabio while wearing clothing identifying them as Austintown Township Trustees."
Trustee is a nonpartisan position. While Deavers does not have a listed party affiliation, Shepas and Santos are registered Republicans who received support from the county Republican Party when they ran for trustee in 2023 and 2021, respectively. Santos lost the April 2020 Republican primary for Ohio's 13th Congressional District. Santos also is the treasurer for DeFabio's campaign.