CANFIELD TOWNSHIP — Voters will decide between two incumbents and one challenger for two township trustee seats in the November election.

One area all three candidates can agree on is annexation.

“The Ohio Revised Code (ORC 709) governs the annexation process and outlines the factors that can slow or stop it,” said Canfield Township Trustee Brian Governor. “It is crucial for trustees to be knowledgeable about this code and have legal counsel specializing in annexation, which Canfield Township does.”

Governor, 58, said cities often seek to grow through annexation, and the city of Canfield has historically attempted to annex portions of Canfield Township. The formation of Joint Economic Development Districts, or JEDDs, is one answer that Governor said has been successful thus far.

“As a trustee, I have been part of the board that successfully stopped two of these attempts,” he said. “These efforts ultimately led to the creation of two JEDDs, the first of their kind in Mahoning County. These JEDDs represent an agreement between the city and the township to share the benefits and responsibilities of development projects. The first JEDD is the Windsor House at Canfield on state Route 446, and the second is the Millennial Moments development at the corner of Palmyra and (U.S. Route) 224.

Also serving as a trustee during the creation of the JEDDs and up for reelection is Marie Cartwright.

“The Canfield Community JEDD, which includes the Windsor House of Canfield, exemplifies a successful collaboration between the township and the city,” Cartwright, 72, said. “In this arrangement, the city supplies water and sanitary services, retains 100% of the income tax revenue generated within the district, while the land remains under township jurisdiction. The township continues to enforce its zoning resolutions and provides police protection through the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department.”

She agreed the JEDDs help stop annexation and represent an era of cooperation between city and township, who can work toward a common goal for the betterment of all Canfield residents.

This year’s ballot will include a challenger in Emilio Sebastiani, who also favors JEDDs.

“For the township, a JEDD provides a way to attract new businesses and support development in areas like the northwest corridor without having to incorporate or annex the land into the city,” Sebastiani, 53, said. “For the city, a JEDD creates an opportunity to extend water, sewer and other services in exchange for a share in income tax revenue generated by new businesses, all without expanding its geographic boundaries.”

He said a JEDD is truly a win-win for both the township and city.

WATER SERVICE

Another issue affecting Canfield Township is providing water, specifically to the northwest quadrant of the township. All three candidates weighed in on the issue.

Governor said, “The residents of the township’s northwest quadrant are in need of a new or different potable water source and sanitary system to replace their current well water and septic systems. This is a challenge since townships according to law can’t own or operate drinking water or sanitary systems.”

He said Canfield Township has been able to successfully offer a solution of providing potable water to residents through collaboration with the ABC Water and Storm Water District. The district has secured an agreement with Youngstown to provide bulk water, and has secured a $750,000 grant to initiate installation of the waterline down Herbert Road.

“As a trustee, I am fully committed to bringing this initiative to fruition. Also, keep in mind that by providing water in this quadrant, the township can slow or halt any annexation attempts by any other municipality,” Governor said.

Cartwright said, “By providing this new water source it could benefit residents with their homeowners’ insurance by lowering the Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating. ISO assigns a fire protection rating to communities from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best rating. The rating is based on several factors including water supply. In rural areas that have wells and no fire hydrants the homeowners’ insurance in that area will be higher than an individual who lives in a development that has fire hydrants.”

She said additionally, getting the waterlines in place is only part of the plan since it will be necessary to add a water tower that will be located on township owned property, and will require further funding. Much time, energy and resources will be needed to accomplish this goal.

Sebastiani agrees with the need to provide water and sewer. He said, “Expanding water and sewer infrastructure to the northwest part of the township is a critical step toward supporting sustainable growth, protecting public health, and promoting responsible land use…. Extending water and sewer lines will not only allow for more efficient and environmentally sound development, but also help prevent issues related to groundwater contamination and failing septic systems. This investment is about more than just convenience, it’s about laying the foundation for long-term resilience and smart community planning.”

PAVING PROGRAM

The township is implementing a five-year paving program to pave entire developments, including infrastructure repairs.

“Successfully paving a whole development requires infrastructure planning one to two years in advance,” Governor said. “For example, this past summer, repairs started in the Westbury Development in preparation for paving next year. Additionally, we are now working on Maplevale and Ivy for a joint paving program with Mahoning County in the spring of 2026. I am committed to keeping our focus on our large paving programs and addressing our aging infrastructure concerns.”

Cartwright said she wants to see the township’s paving program continue to be aggressive.

“This plan is to repave an entire development and replace or repair infrastructure including catch basins, crossover pipes, curb and gutters, handicap ramps, etc,” she said. “This is extremely expensive since the average cost to pave a mile long road in Mahoning County can cost anywhere from $175,000 to $425,000 depending on the scope of the project; for example, the amount of infrastructure improvements, type of materials used, thickness of blacktop, conforming to the subdivision requirements of Mahoning County, etc.”

She said going after grants and using the sales tax proceeds are a big plus in having a strong repaving program.

Sebastiani said, “Improving the paving program in your Township can significantly enhance road safety, community satisfaction, and long-term infrastructure planning. Here are several key strategies township officials could use to strengthen the program: Develop a comprehensive road condition assessment; create a multi-year paving plan; seek alternative funding sources; improve communication with residents by clearly communicating paving schedules, delays, and project goals through newsletters; incorporate preventative maintenance; and evaluate contractor performance and materials.

One area all three candidates will have to be concerned with is the state tax situation.

Cartwright said, “One notable challenge is the proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes in Ohio, which is anticipated to appear on the ballot in 2026. Although legislative reforms and amendments are being considered to address this issue, townships must prepare for the potential loss of property tax revenue, which is a primary funding source.”

Cartwright has served as Canfield trustee since 2009, being re-elected in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Governor has been a Canfield trustee since 2014 and has been re-elected twice.

Sebastiani ran for trustee in 2019 and has not held prior public office.