Four area attorneys are competing to win the Democratic nomination to replace outgoing Niles Municipal Judge Thomas Townley, who is retiring at the end of the year.

The candidates seeking the nomination include Chris Shaker, Gil Blair, Terry Swauger and John Gargano.

Shaker, who has been a practicing attorney for 33 years, said he wants to give back to the community where he lives and has supported his family’s law firm for many years.

“My priority will be to work with the administration to produce a budget in which the court can operate,” Shaker said. “As a person who has run a business, I am confident I can live within my means.”

Shaker said he will work to find alternative funding to enhance the court’s computer system. He also said he is interested in creating a drug and veterans court.

Blair, 46, a Mineral Ridge resident, has worked as a prosecutor in Warren Municipal Court and in the city’s housing court.

“The two biggest issues facing the courts is the housing crisis and the opioid epidemic,” Blair said. “Niles has a good reputation and I want to work with Townley’s staff to maintain the good work already being done.”

As a trustee in Weathersfield, Blair said he brings a unique perspective to the court that other candidates do not have.

“I understand how the actions of the court may impact the community it serves,” Blair said.

As a prosecutor in Niles Municipal Court for a decade, Swauger already works with all its employees and understand the nuances of that courtroom.

“I want to bring more modern technology into the court, including pursuing electronic filing and paperless traffic citation,” Swauger said. “I’ve handled more criminal and civil cases in the court than any of the other candidates.”

Gargano , 59, director of Trumbull County Job and Family Services, hopes to bring a new perspective to the municipal court.

“There are things I can do to make the court more efficient,” he said. “One thing will be moving it to become a more paperless system.”

Gargano was the prosecutor in Niles Court in 1984 to 1985. Since 1992, he has periodically worked as an acting judge in Niles. The primary election is May 2.

The Trumbull county Republican Party has 14 candidates running for seats in Warren, Niles, Girard and McDonald in the primary. It has candidates running for Warren council seats in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th wards, and two candidate seeking at large seats. The party also has candidate running for the city auditor’s unexpired term and the treasurer’s office.

Four of Warren’s seven council seats will have competitive races on the Democratic side.

Longtime councilman Alford Novak, 2nd ward, will compete with Bob Jennings, and former councilman Ronald White will compete with Eugene Mach for the 7th ward seat.

Bob Moody is competing against Ken MacPherson for Warren’s 5th ward seat now held by Danielle Polivka, who said she does not plan to seek the seat permanently. She was chosen to fill the unexpired term of Vince Flask, who became auditor.

Four candidates are seeking the 4th ward seat, including Mark Forte, Sher-ree D. Glover, Ronald Book and Pierson J. Butcher. Forte and Butcher also are seeking to fill the unexpired term of Jim Bluedorn. Fourth ward precinct committee members will meet Tuesday to choose a replacement.

Newcomer Emily Mach, 24, will be competing with Tom Letson, a former state representative, for the Warren treasurer seat in the Democratic primary.

Vince Flask will seek to complete the term of former auditor Anthony Natale against the man he defeated in a precinct committee vote, Valdeoso Patterson.

rsmith@tribtoday.com

List of primary election candidates

The following candidates filed petitions to run in the Democratic primary May 2:

Warren Municipal Court Judge: Terry Ivanchak of Warren (incumbent)

Niles Municipal Court Judge: Chris Shaker of Niles, Gil Blair of Mineral Ridge, Terry Swauger of Niles and John Gargano of Niles

Girard Municipal Court Judge: Jeffrey D. Adler of Hubbard (incumbent)

Newton Falls Municipal Court Judge: Philip M. Vigorito of Warren (incumbent)

Warren City Auditor (unexpired term): Vincent Flask (incumbent) and Valdeoso Patterson

Warren City Treasurer: Emily Mach and Tom Letson

Warren Council President: Jim Graham (incumbent)

Warren Council at-large: Daniel Sferra, Eddie Colbert and Helen Rucker (all incumbents)

Warren 1st Ward: Larry Larson (incumbent)

Warren 2nd Ward: Al Novak (incumbent) and Bob Jennings

Warren 3rd Ward: John Brown Jr. (incumbent)

Warren 4th Ward: Mark Forte, Sher-Ree Glover, Ronald Book and Pierson J. Butcher Jr.

Warren 5th Ward: Bob Moody, Ken MacPherson and D’Andre Bowers

Warren 6th Ward: Cheryl Saffold (incumbent)

Warren 7th Ward: Eugene Mach (incumbent) and Ronald E. White Sr.

Niles City Treasurer: Janet M. Jones (incumbent)

Niles Council President: Barry Steffey Jr.

Niles Council at large: Ryan McNaughton, Stephen Papalas and Michael Lastic (all incumbents)

Niles 1st Ward: Patrick Kearney and Melina Brown

Niles 2nd Ward: Steven Mientkiewicz (incumbent)

Niles 3rd Ward: Linda Marchese (incumbent)

Niles 4th Ward: Albert Cantola Jr.

Girard Treasurer: Mark Zuppo (incumbent)

Girard Council President: Reynald Paolone (incumbent)

Girard Council at-large: Lily Martuccio, William Ryser and John Moliterno (incumbent)

Girard 1st Ward: Mark Ragozine and Steve Brooks

Girard 2nd Ward: Mark Standohar

Girard 3rd Ward: Keith Schubert

Girard 4th Ward: Thomas Grumley

Hubbard auditor: Michael Villano

Hubbard treasurer: Marsha Ruha

Hubbard council president: William C. Williams

Hubbard Council at-large: Jerome C. Crowe, Justin Silvidi and Benjamin Kyle (incumbent)

Hubbard 1st Ward: Bonnie Viele

Hubbard 2nd Ward: Timothy O’Hara

Hubbard 3rd Ward: Lisha Pompili-Baumiller

Hubbard 4th Ward: Michael Toda

Newton Falls 1st Ward: Joe Battisti

Newton Falls 3rd Ward: Mark Stimpert

Lordstown Council: Darin Ward

McDonald Mayor (unexpired term): Marty Puckett

McDonald council: Walter Bradley, Michael O’Brien (incumbent) and Richard Harvey (incumbent)

The following candidates filed petitions to run in the Republican primary:

Warren auditor (unexpired term): Carlo Ciccone

Warren treasurer: Ken Perrine

Warren council at-large: John D. Bain Jr. and James E. Walker

Warren 1st Ward: Tracy Norah Nasidka

Warren 2nd Ward: Jason Nelson

Warren 3rd Ward: Nickolas Bellas

Warren 5th Ward: John M. Sterling

Warren 7th Ward: Frank R. Naypaver

Niles council at-large: John David Priddy

Niles 4th Ward: Michael Cline Sr.

Girard council at-large: Frank Vigarino and Dan Moadus

McDonald council: Joseph John Dugan