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We are very disappointed in the unprofessional reaction and behavior displayed by Youngstown City Council candidate Amber White involving a board of elections investigation raising questions about the residency of several voters, including the registration of White's stepdaughter.
White, an independent candidate, still leads in the three-way 7th Ward council race with as many as 48 votes left to count. White, an independent, is ahead of incumbent Basia Adamczak, a Democrat, 672 to 654, with Republican Josie Lyon receiving 335 votes, according to unofficial totals from the Mahoning County Board of Elections.
The board of elections will meet Thursday to finalize the count of mail-in and absentee ballots and certify the results.
In weeks leading up to the election, the Mahoning County Board of Elections staff raised questions about the residency of five of the six people living at a 2354 Mount Vernon Ave. house.
"We're concerned because they're all new (registrations), and it's not a big house," Tom McCabe, elections board director, told our reporter.
Five of the six people living at 2354 Mount Vernon Ave., the same street where White resides, registered between Oct. 5 and the Oct. 10 deadline. One of those residents is Christine Lewis, White's stepdaughter, who unsuccessfully tried to get on the ballot as an independent candidate in the 4th Ward. Lewis still owns a house at 36 N. Glenellen Ave. in the 4th Ward, according to the county auditor's website.
White said those at that house are family and that Lewis has since moved back to her North Glenellen Avenue home after a sale of the property fell through.
The board of elections also investigated questions raised in two complaints -- filed by Adamczak and by Christopher Travers, who is supporting Lyon -- about the residency of those living at 2803 South Ave., where White said she and husband, John, previously resided.
McCabe said he looked into the residency complaint at the South Avenue house and did not find enough evidence to move forward on the complaints.
Additionally, a police report involving a zoning violation stemming from too many tenants indicated that a resident at 2803 South Ave. told an officer she paid "very low" rent there in exchange for voting for White.
White insists she hasn't offered anything of value for anyone's vote, and said she was being verbally attacked.
We understand her frustration. But what we don't understand -- and definitely don't condone -- is the vulgar language she used to express that frustration to our reporter.
"I'm going to have to defend myself against these (expletive) accusations in the newspaper. This is (expletive) ridiculous. One (expletive) person has said some ridiculous (expletive). How do you know they would vote for me? You don't know who anyone is voting for? I can't control where someone is registered. I'm going to correct all these accusations. I have literally done nothing wrong. I'm upset."
If White hopes to be a successful and professional representative of our city, she must understand she often will face adversity and she must learn to keep her feelings and reactions in check.
Our city benefits and prospers only when those elected to lead set good examples among constituents and potential businesses that consider relocating here.