NILES — Things look to stay the same for the next four years for the county’s Democratic party, as party members voted to retain Mark Alberini as the party’s chair Thursday.

The central committee voted to retain Kathy DeChristofaro as the party’s vice-chairperson and Cathy Phifer as secretary and treasurer.

Alberini, who was seeking another term as chair after beating Dan Polivka for the position 64-53 on June 7, 2022, for Democratic chairman, beat him again — this time, the vote being 54-28.

In his nomination speech, Mark Alberini noted the party’s growth over the last four years, saying the party, adding that leadership, presence and commitment matter.

“Over the last four years, I’ve been here — present, engaged, active, visible and mobile — not just during the election season, but all year round. I’ve worked alongside many of you to strengthen this party, support our candidates, grow fundraising, expand our volunteer base and increase our visibility across Trumbull County,” Alberini said. “We built a more collaborative and effective party structure, one that shares responsibility, values teamwork, and brings more people into the process.”

Alberini said the work has given the party “real results,” noting that the party has raised over $90,000 over the last four years, grown the party’s operating account from $3,000 to $18,000 and its newsletter reach from 450 to 2,080 people.

Alberini said the results didn’t happen by accident, but because people showed up and did the work — which is what the election comes down to.

“This party needs leadership that is present, engaged and willing to do the hard work in building and sustaining an organization,” Alberini said. “I have been here doing that work alongside many of you. Unfortunately, my opponent has not.”

Alberini said Polivka was absent from the fundraising, campaigning and organizing required to move the party forward when it needed support, energy and participation.

Alberini said he wasn’t running for personal reasons, but because he cares about the county and electing strong Democrats “up and down the ballot.”

“We’re stronger, more organized and more coordinated than we were four years ago,” Alberini said, “but there’s still work that needs to be done.”

Polivka, who held Alberini’s seat for 12 years, said precinct committeeman is the most important position in Democratic politics, calling it the “backbone” of the party and noting that he’s been one since he was 18 years old.

“I have served as an elected precinct committeeman for over 25 years, unlike my opponent, Mark, who is not an elected precinct committeeman,” Polivka said. “I served as Warren city councilman, a Trumbull County commissioner and the previous chairman of our party.”

Polivka said he was hoping to give county Democrats a choice for a new and positive direction, adding that he’s listened to many precinct committeemen and elected officials.

“Many of you express concern about the direction of our party; you’re concerned about the lack of communication, more fundraising,” said Polivka, noting that he missed one fundraiser because of a family emergency, “our fundraising efforts, recent candidate recruitment and our election results.”

Polivka noted county commissioner candidate Kristen Rock, who is slated to go against Republican nominee Michael Hovis, and county auditor candidate Ed Stredney, slated to go against Republican nominee Mike Loychik, will not have a shared campaign because the party did not fill seven positions.

“I know you criticized me last time from one position, where were you at?” Polivka said.

Alberini said he was recruiting people, which he said was “a little tougher” nowadays.

Polivka said he shared the same concerns as the party’s committeemen, saying that the numbers tell the story. “This year, Democrats had 66 committee seats with no candidates; I started getting write-in candidates, and the party followed suit,” Polivka said. “The young Dems, and I thank you Kathy and Cathy for helping also. But we got 50 to file, but we have 66 vacant.”

“When I was your chairman, we had two or three vacancies — it just doesn’t make sense. This year, Democrats also lost every contested countywide race in the last two election cycles. Unacceptable, totally unacceptable.”

After the election, Alberini said he wasn’t sure of the party’s changes for the next four years now.

“We have some trends that are going on, in terms of increasing election, increasing voter turnout, doing better in some precincts that hadn’t performed very well before,” Alberini said. “We’re going to continue doing more of the same in those areas, we’re going to focus on fundraising — to do that on a regular cadence. It costs money to run these operations, to get candidates elected.”

Alberini emphasized the party’s refusal to put up unqualified candidates who don’t wish to do the job or aren’t qualified. “We’re going to continue putting the best qualified candidates up that are going to do the job, that are ethical and hardworking,” Alberini said.