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David Skolnick

Mahoning County, Austintown are pawns in Ohio redistricting

With Ohio Republicans carving up the state to produce a congressional map that favors its party 12-3 — and Democrats agreeing to it — Mahoning County played a key role as a pawn in the game. The county will be split starting with the 2026 election with the most egregious work done to Austintown, which ended being one of only 11 of Ohio’s 1,300-plus townships to be divided. The constitutional amendment that created this process was designed to reduce the number of ways congressional districts could be gerrymandered. But you would be hard-pressed to see that from the map approved ...

Some homeowners won’t see relief from tax reform bills

The two property tax bills recently approved by the Ohio House would save homeowners more than $2.4 billion over the next three years, but they would heavily benefit those in more rural areas. “Anything is better than nothing, but this is just a starting point,” said Mahoning County Auditor Ralph Meacham, a Republican. “It’s going to drop the millage by a small amount. It doesn’t benefit cities. It’s more focused on smaller, rural areas.” The bills still need to be approved by the GOP-controlled state Senate and then signed by Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, before ...

Issues, accusations taint Mahoning clerk of courts

On all levels of government, people get elected to offices they are not prepared to handle. It’s not a problem exclusive to any political party or to those who hold nonpartisan positions. We’ve recently had a Republican wave in Mahoning and Trumbull counties that has led to a number of politically inexperienced people getting elected to countywide office. Just as it was for decades in the two counties when clueless Democrats got elected simply because of their party affiliation, we’re seeing it with Republicans. While some have done well or at least hired the right people, ...

Ban on intoxicating hemp by DeWine goes up in smoke

Gov. Mike DeWine’s ban on the sale of intoxicating hemp items ended before it could even take effect. DeWine, a Republican who has long opposed the sale of the products, announced Oct. 8 that he was declaring an “adulterated consumer product emergency,” effective Tuesday because the items present “a threat to public health and safety.” The products contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and aren’t regulated like the state’s adult recreational and medical marijuana industry. DeWine has long argued that several of the products are geared toward children as they are in ...

Mahoning, Trumbull could see worst turnout in 30 years

If election directors are correct in their predictions for how many votes will be cast in this election – and they’re usually close – Mahoning and Trumbull counties will have the lowest turnout in at least the 30 years I’ve covered elections in the Valley. The League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown asked me to talk to its membership about the importance of local elections, which I did Wednesday. I didn’t deliver good news. Director Tom McCabe of the Mahoning County Board of Elections predicts turnout for the general election in his county to be 22%. It’s even ...

Reforming property taxes gains steam in Legislature

A substitute bill, sponsored by state Rep. David Thomas, to limit unvoted property taxes collected by school districts has a tremendous amount of momentum in the General Assembly as legislators work as quickly as possible to pass property tax reform. The bill would limit the revenue school districts can receive from what is known as the 20-mill floor to inflation. Thomas, R-Jefferson, who represents portions of Trumbull County, said the bill would save Ohio homeowners nearly $1.7 billion over the next three years, starting with the second half of the 2026 tax bill. The amendment, ...