The race for two available seats on the Austintown Township Board of Trustees has been one of the most interesting and hotly contested races in the 2025 general election.

As recently as a month ago, six candidates were vying for those seats. Even after Emily Ciccone withdrew from the race following a domestic incident with her husband Michael — the embattled Mahoning County Clerk of Courts — Austintown residents still will choose from five candidates when they go to the polls Tuesday.

Incumbents Monica Deavers and Rob Santos are seeking their second four-year terms. The remaining challengers are former trustee Jim Davis, former Youngstown City Councilman Michael Rapovy and political newcomer Carl Clay. Deavers and Santos took office in 2021 after defeating Davis and Ken Carano.

Davis and Santos have garnered the endorsement of The Vindicator editorial board.

All the candidates will be watching not only the election results in the trustees race, but also the vote on another Austintown police levy. Instead of last year’s proposed continuing levy, this time residents are being asked to approve a five-year renewable levy.

Santos and Deavers said they’ve made difficult decisions to maintain Austintown’s police protection at appropriate levels, including the move to end the township’s police K9 program. Both support the levy, as does Davis — himself a former officer.

Clay and Rapovy both argue for more accountability and transparency from trustees. Rapovy cited a proposed methadone clinic in the township — a project eventually scrapped — and the fact that trustees meetings have been cut to one per month. Clay wants any potential levies to be put before voters before getting to the ballot.

All the candidates are concerned about the statewide turmoil surrounding property taxes, with another revaluation set for 2026. Mahoning County property taxes went up about 38% in 2023, with another jump of 20% expected next year.

A significant portion of the township’s operating funds come from property taxes, and with the township already facing money problems related to safety services, we believe it is important to ensure that Austintown’s board of trustees move forward with as much experience and solid relationships with representatives from other local and state entities.

It’s clear that Mahoning Valley’s townships will need to work with counterparts across the region and in Columbus — perhaps more than ever before — in order to grow and prosper. We believe Davis and Santos are the best choices to make that happen.