Trumbull recorder candidates

GOALS: Expanding the Good Deeds Trumbull program, making legislation to protect veterans from solicitation law, and passing a bill making it a felony to knowingly draft and submit fraudulent documents into the recorders database.

A Cortland resident and first-time candidate is attempting to unseat an incumbent seeking his third four-year term in the fall election.

Dawn Zinni, a Republican, is gunning for the county recorder position against Tod Latell, a Girard Democrat.

The recorder’s office is responsible for keeping records of real estate ownership, liens and encumbrances for various groups, such as the public, attorneys and land title examiners. The office also performs accounting functions and notifies local governments on both the county and township level to file zoning resolutions, maps and amendments.

Election Day is Nov. 5. Early voting started Oct. 8.

ZINNI

For Zinni, a lifelong Republican eager to break into government, she saw the recorder’s office as a perfect place to start.

“After my once thriving company took a major downturn under Bidenomics, and the overreach of government through the pandemic, I knew I needed to get involved in government,” Zinni said.

Zinni considers ensuring that internal controls are developed and implemented to be the biggest challenge for the position, noting the county auditor’s office transferred $161,857 over eight transactions to a hacker posing as Bazetta Township last month.

“Hackers are stealing citizens’ property with fake deeds,” Zinni said. “A state law was just passed that requires all counties to have online access by 2026, (and) information will have to be redacted to avoid identity theft.”

The budget also could be an issue, she added, as the economy is struggling and officials are facing “high-dollar” lawsuits.

If elected recorder, Zinni said she will ensure the office is accessible to the public at a time when working- class individuals are facing longer work days and have to work two jobs sometimes to make ends meet.

“I would increase office hours two days a week until 6 p.m. to accommodate the public. I would do this by staggering workers hours to not increase payroll,” Zinni said.

Zinni, who already works full-time as a home health care nurse, plans to retire from nursing to take the position if elected.

LATELL

For Latell, his love for what his team and him have accomplished, as well as the support of his predecessor, Diana Marchese, motivated him to run again.

“We really have taken this office to the next level. I have had the opportunity to work with recorders all across our state and country as a member of the Ohio Recorders Association,” Latell said. “One of the best parts of serving as recorder is that it is the most nonpartisan office in the county, in my opinion. It doesn’t matter what your religion is, your political affiliation, or who you are, we serve everyone the same, and I believe we do it pretty well.”

Latell considers improving technology to be the position’s biggest challenge next year, as he considers Trumbull to be “ahead of the curve” in the field. With electronic submission options the office is “essentially” open 24/7, he added, and AI will play a role in their office in the future.

Latell said they’ve already seen a major impact from Good Deeds Trumbull, a program implemented to educate residents about the probate process.

“We have helped thousands of county residents learn how to prepare a plan to help protect their most valuable assets when they or a loved one passes away,” he said. ” It has been extremely rewarding to help residents in this way because it is something everyone will go through.”