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Ex-Newton Falls mayor looks to remove current officials

NEWTON FALLS — Former Mayor Patrick Layshock, who voters in 2010 removed in a special recall election, is taking preliminary steps to recall his successor and also remove a councilman, who was recalled in 1992.

About a month before the Nov. 7 election, Layshock posted on Facebook that he hit his breaking point with Mayor Lyle Waddell and Councilman John Baryak and would begin the recall process.

“I am disappointed with the performance of our public officials,” Layshock said. “And my reason is they’re not doing anything they are required to do by contract or by ordinance.”

Layshock, who is running as a write-in for council at Large, is also disappointed because he said council doesn’t establish goals; is financially irresponsible; and is nonresponsive to the concerns of the village, citizens and with the community center.

“Options are to live under their reign or to present the community with someone else,” Layshock said.

Waddell said Layshock has been at the center of every recall in the village.

“I was recalled because I disagreed with him,” said 2nd Ward Councilman Baryak. “Ever since he’s been recalled he’s been on a personal vendetta to try and get even with those who got him recalled.”

Waddell said the threat to remove them from office is just a campaign ploy to take attention away from Layshock’s own recall.

“We’re trying to do positive things,” Waddell said.

Waddell and Baryak said village council has accomplished a number of great things from annexing land into the community, reducing the budget while increasing the police force and bringing in a treatment center to help with the opioid epidemic.

“We’re finally cleaning up the wreckage of the past and moving forward from 20 years of no management,” Baryak said. “We’ve accomplished things he’s never been able to accomplish.”

However, Layshock said because of severe billing errors and failure to evaluate the city manager, among other reasons, the officials have failed to do their oath-bound jobs.

“I can’t take it anymore and the public is going to speak,” Layshock said.

The requirements to remove officials with a recall are a statement explaining why, valid signatures from 15 percent of the voters in the most recent regular election and a demand to elect a successor, according to the Ohio Ballot Questions and Issues Handbook.

Layshock said he put in a public records request to view his recall in 2010 and to ensure he uses the correct process, he will mirror the paperwork.

It’s just going to cause the community heartache and spend taxpayers’ money, but “so be it,” Baryak said.

Unsure if anything will actually happen with the recall, Waddell said he’s focusing on doing the job he’s been elected to do.

lcummins@tribtoday.com

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