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A large number of challengers running against an incumbent township trustee can be a clear indication of dissatisfied constituents.
Challenges in next week's Liberty Township trustees race have been launched by newcomers Libby Benson, Kisharra Blackwell and Chris Colon, along with former trustee Jason Rubin, all opposing incumbent Trustee Devon Stanley, for a crowded race of five candidates.
The most common theme we heard from those challengers was concern with blight and zoning.
To be clear, we interviewed each candidate except for Kisharra Blackwell, who did not return our questionnaire nor our emails and phone calls to discuss her candidacy. Additionally, Blackwell did not participate in a township candidate forum that our reporter attended last month.
Consistently, each candidate spoke highly of Liberty safety forces, but raised concerns about zoning rule enforcement.
"I know that myself and a lot of people in Liberty are extremely concerned about property values and how properties generally are not being kept up," Benson told this newspaper's editorial board during her scheduled candidate interview. "What you hear from the zoning director is that 'We don't have the rules to enforce' such and such, whether it's trees down, paint, or trash in the yard. … So, in general, each street has a property that is not being maintained, and it's pulling down our property values. I want to see those maintenance codes improved. I want clearer, more concise property codes, and so do the other members of Liberty township," she said.
Colon also was critical of township zoning enforcement, particularly when it comes to blight.
"There's been (enforcement) success in Boardman Township, Howland Township. We can enforce zoning," Colon said.
He also spoke about the need to revitalize the Belmont Avenue corridor, and said he would support partnering with neighboring Youngstown on such an important project.
Rubin also discussed zoning concerns, property upkeep and logging and clearcutting that has been taking place on various Liberty properties, leaving behind messes of mud, brush and barren land.
"We have cars parked in the front yard with no license plates. We have houses falling down. Not everywhere, but we have a big zoning issue. … I keep hearing there's nothing we can do about it; I don't believe that," Rubin said, pointing out that Liberty Township is governed by home rule. "It takes a zoning officer and a police officer. We have steps to enforce it."
Having previously served as a township trustee for eight years, Rubin would bring experience. He spoke knowledgeably about safety forces and township spending. He also claimed responsibility for introducing Shepherd of the Valley to Liberty Township, and said, if elected, he would work to generate more business development.
Incumbent trustee Stanley said he understands the growing concern over blight and zoning, but countered that the township is doing all it can under law to enforce it. He said he worked with township zoning to board up nuisance businesses and schedule demolition.
"(Zoning) enforcement is not the problem," Stanley said, noting only 12 violation cases have been filed in Girard Municipal Court since 2019. Of those, he said 10 eventually got into compliance.
"Any property that has been a nuisance property, we have not only cited, but we put on the condemned list. I have seen the attorneys that are working to try and turn those properties around," he told us.
Stanley also claimed success by serving on the board that has paved over 51% of township roads since he took office. He said he helped create a litter-control program addressing roadside refuse problems.
Stanley said he approached several area businesses, including restaurants that he mentioned by name in attempts to entice moves or expansions to the Belmont Avenue corridor. Despite little success, he says he will continue these efforts.
When asked, the incumbent said he was puzzled by what might be driving the crowded field of challengers, other than zoning or development concerns. He did mention, however, that his name had been bandied about in consideration for other higher elected posts, which he suspected might have driven some of the challenges. He said, however, if reelected, he has no plans of leaving office mid-term to pursue other opportunities.
We feel strongly that either of the two candidates with experience in serving township government -- incumbent Devon Stanley or challenger Jason Rubin -- would serve the township well.
If you're a voter who is satisfied with the status quo, then we suggest casting your ballot for Stanley. But if you are looking for change in Liberty, then Rubin is the best equipped of all the challengers to step in and quickly get up to speed.
Voters would not go wrong with either Stanley or Rubin.
And no matter who is elected, we will urge them to focus on zoning enforcement and cleanup of growing blight in the township.