Salem, New Castle, Poland, Beloit elect new mayors

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The Campbell mayor was re-elected to his fifth two-year term.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

There are new mayors in Salem, New Castle, Poland and Beloit.

Meanwhile, the incumbent mayor in Campbell, who before the election had acknowledged it was going to be "tough" for him to win, was easily re-elected.

Campbell Mayor John E. Dill, first elected to the post in 1999, captured 57.8 percent of the vote, defeating Tony Fontes. This despite controversy over his strong support to sell or lease the city's water treatment plant and its distribution system. Campbell residents voted to not permit Dill to take such action.

"Overall, the people know we are doing a lot of good things in the city," Dill said of his victory.

Dill said Fontes' Oct. 10 arrest by Campbell police on charges of operating a vehicle under the influence and failure to control somewhat helped his re-election bid. Since the arrest, Fontes' mayoral campaign essentially came to a stop.

Attempts in recent days to contact Fontes have been unsuccessful.

"Let's not be naive," Dill said. "It did play a part. How big of a part? I don't know."

In somewhat of a surprise, Timothy D. Sicafuse easily won the Poland mayor's race, capturing 55.8 percent of the vote in a three-man race.

"It's exciting and scary at the same time," Sicafuse said of his victory. "I thought it was going to be close. I don't know what it was. ... I'm anxious to get in and get started."

Sicafuse, an independent, defeated Republican John H. Yerian III and Ralph J. Mentzer, another independent candidate.

"From the very beginning I felt that one would win, and no one would lose," said Yerian, who added that the two others in the race were excellent candidates.

Salem Mayor-elect Jerry Wolford said that officials have to work together to solve the city's problems. The Republican beat Democrat Councilman Clyde Brown.

Wolford said that as mayor he will try to be a facilitator while working with council.

The city has a tight budget and a growing drug problem among other problems.

Wolford, a Perry Township trustee and longtime downtown barber, said he also wants to work with the township.

Brown was elected to council in a backlash to the creation of the now-defunct Quaker Community Fire District created by the city and township.

Wolford said the big key in the mayoral race was experience. He has served on city council and the trustees.

Brown was upset by the final results. "I should have won," Brown said. "I ran a good, clean campaign."

Wolford was conciliatory. "I lost ... in my career," Wolford said. "It's tough. It doesn't make anyone less of a person."

Wolford earlier ran unsuccessfully for mayor.

New Castle voters also elected a new mayor.

Democrat Anthony Mastrangelo beat incumbent Wayne Alexander by a large margin.

"People just want a change to be made," Mastrangelo said.

Mastrangelo will take office in the wake of the city's being declared financially distressed under the Alexander administration. Alexander inherited massive debt from previous administrations, and earlier this year the process of state oversight started.

Mastrangelo, a retired hospital administrator, said his first order of business will be to stabilize the city's finances. The city has a deficit in the millions. But, he noted, what money is available will go to public safety such as police, fire and code enforcement efforts.

Mastrangelo said he also intends to aggressively pursue new business development in the city and wants to be held accountable when in office.

Alexander said he will work with Mastrangelo in the transition.

Alexander is unsure why voters decided to go with his Democratic opponent in this race.

"I thought we did a good job with our economic incentive, our war on drugs and giving everyone a fair chance," he said.

In Beloit, incumbent Mayor Eric Augustein lost to Mary H. McNatt by 13 votes in a race that had 391 voters.

Incumbent mayors in Lowellville, Sebring and Lordstown were re-elected Tuesday.

Contributors: David Skolnick, D.A. Wilkinson and Laure Cioffi.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007