Canfield city residents rightfully take pride in the city’s heritage as part of the historic Connecticut Western Reserve and bask in the city’s contemporary standing as a prosperous, aesthetically polished community.

Candidates in next week’s city council election seek to preserve that heritage and extend that positive image.

Five candidates vie for four seats on the nonpartisan council. Because the city is altering its charter, based on voter-approved changes, the two highest vote getters in this race will serve four years; the next two-highest candidates will serve two-year terms.

The Vindicator endorses incumbent candidates Charles H. Tieche and William Bruce Neff for the four-year terms.

Among the remaining challengers, we preferred Dennis Wingard because we found him to be a free thinker who likely will raise solid questions about status quo and all decisions council will face.

We see the final choice as a tossup between the remaining two candidates, Christine Oliver and Mark Graham. Both have proven track records in community mindedness, but remained unwilling to commit their positions on some topics facing council, noting lack of knowledge on the topics. We found that disappointing when seeking a seat at the table.

Tieche and Neff get our strongest support due to their years of experience. Tieche has been involved in city operations and city government since 1965. Over those years, he played a role in some of the city’s crowning achievements including growth and greater professionalism in the police department, improvements to city water infrastructure through agreements with Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, adoption of a regular schedule for road repairs and establishment of a strict property maintenance code.

In his vision for the future, Tieche cites commitments to exploring economic development opportunities, particularly on the west side of U.S. Route 224, hiring a skilled city manager (a post he held for 19 years) and redefining roles of zoning inspector to incorporate economic development duties as a crucial role. He’s also a staunch defender of the city’s policy of requiring annexation to those seeking water and sewer services from Canfield.

He’s also open to hearing results of a detailed study on the merger of the Boardman and Cardinal Joint Fire District but rightfully worries about potential inequities in who holds the power base of such a joint force, considering Boardman’s population is at least four times greater than Canfield’s.

Neff, who seeks his third council term, has deep roots in Canfield as a seventh-generation resident. His strong passion for preserving the city’s longtime reputation for superior quality of living is self-evident. He plans to continue ongoing initiatives, including expediting the Millennial Moments development, improving sidewalks and other infrastructure and rejuvenating the Canfield Business Forum.

Wingard, a retired public school teacher, said he believes the current council members are guilty of rubber stamping too much legislation from the city’s administration. He vows to investigate issues more thoroughly that come before the body.

He said he is skeptical of the proposal to merge the fire departments serving Boardman and Canfield, arguing that Boardman would benefit disproportionately by gaining EMS services it lacks now. “Canfield has too much to give and not much to gain,” he said.

He also wants to add economic development duties to the job of city manager if he or she is not hired by Jan. 1 when his term would begin.

Oliver, too, would bring experience to council, having served on it in 2018 and 2019. The U.S. Navy veteran also demonstrated commitment to Canfield and its schools through her involvement in groups like Canfield Rotary and Back the Blue, a nonprofit she started to honor law enforcement officers.

Among her priorities, if elected to a new term, would be improvements to water and sewer service and flood control in some sectors of the city. She also would like to seek outside grant funding to help lessen the burden on the city’s general fund budget.

Graham, a retired executive vice president from Farmers National Bank, is thoughtful and focused on the community where he’s lived for decades. With his experience in business and involvement in service organizations, we are certain he would quickly adapt to council operations.

He spoke about the urgent need for a city manager and for forging partnerships with neighboring communities, including Canfield Township.

“It’s powerful when people can work together,” Graham said.

Graham has served admirably as treasurer for the school levy committee and for a Mill Creek MetroParks political action committee. He also volunteered with Cardinal Nest Builders renovating the stadium.

Both Oliver and Graham would serve their constituents with care and concern, but it seems both will have a bit of catching up to do on issues facing council. We view that choice as a tossup for voters, but believe they would not go wrong with either.

editorial@vindy.com