NEWTON FALLS — Mayor Kenneth Kline is being challenged by David Hanson in the mayoral primary election, and both candidates discuss keeping village meetings civil and working for economic growth.

Kline has served as mayor for one term, since 2020. Hanson is marking his first time seeking election to the mayor’s post, having run in the 1980s for Newton Township trustee.

Hanson stresses the importance of bringing back a village police department.

KENNETH KLINE

Kline said he will focus on stopping “all the nonsense that Newton Falls is often known for” and push for getting the village into the news for positive reasons.

He said he will focus on getting rid of the divisions on local government as well as in the community as a whole.

Kline said he also will focus on economic growth, work to bring in new business and support businesses the village already has.

He also seeks “relational growth” in the community as a whole.

Kline said he wants the village to operate within an actual budget to ensure roads, parks and sidewalks are kept in better condition.

He said he also will continue to make sure citizens are heard and treated fairly.

“I promise to continue to be a hard working, honest mayor that the only side I take is whatever is best for my community,” he said.

Kline said he shows the community that he is fair to people at the meetings.

“Over the years there has been a lot of unfair politics. I show that I am a very fair individual and high character individual. I feel as mayor I have done what I can for the citizens that my position as mayor allows me to do. People contact me with concerns and issues that I address and try to get done,” he said.

As for council meetings, when there have been arguments, Kline said he wants to stop the “side taking” that is not good for anyone.

“I do not believe the community wants to hear all the fighting. Council will do things correctly and follow the charter and the Ohio Revised Code. Everyone at meetings needs to be respectful. I want things done correctly with accountability,” Kline said.

He said people have the right to speak but should not be demeaning or make false statements. Kline said when individuals do so, the officials and council members can respond at the meeting to accusations.

He said it is important the village live within the budget but if funds are available things should be done to keep things updated — such as roads, parks and sidewalks in good condition and updates to utilities.

“We need to look in our budget to see what funds are available to be used to help Newton Falls look good,” he said.

Kline said he wants to focus on bringing stores, restaurants and light industry to the community. He said the village has utilities to offer but not all the land.

He said Newton Falls can work with Braceville and Newton townships, which have land, to form partnerships to bring in light industry. Kline said joint economic development districts can be formed with Braceville and Newton to run the village utilities to businesses on land in the townships.

DAVID HANSON

Hanson said he will focus on transparency in government.

He said he was concerned the livestreaming the council meetings ended because the $4,000 annual cost was too high, but then the city spent $5,000 for a consultant to conduct a meeting regarding civic pride.

“The consultant conducted the meeting at 10 o’clock in the morning during the week to deter attendance,” Hanson said, noting the meeting was attended by 10 people.

He said people did watch the meetings online, which is important for council to show transparency in what it is doing.

He said he will work to get the meetings broadcast live again, noting people watched them during the COVID-19 pandemic and even after.

“When citizens come to meetings, they should be given the information they are requesting. You can’t run a (village) like it’s a high school popularity contest. The (village) has a multimillion dollar budget that has to be run like a business, not a popularity contest. We need a police department just like a fire department,” Hanson said.

He said the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office has done a good job, but having a village police department benefits everyone.

“Having a police department in a town is a big steppingstone for economic development and schools. Losing the police department was a blow to the community,” he said.

Hanson said having more economic development will provide the funds for a police department, so it would not be a burden on the taxpayers.

“We need to bring the police department back and gets taxes under control. It will take time to get back together,” Hanson said.

He said it also is important to bring new families into town with housing.

Hanson said the village council meetings have devolved into a three-ring circus leading to “one embarrassing headline after another.” He said the meetings have been very hectic in the past couple of years.

Hanson said for economic development, it is important to have distribution and light manufacturing businesses, such as those in Lordstown.

“We are in a good location for business with Routes 76 and 80 in our backyards. Companies would benefit coming here,” he said.

Hanson said residents want to see changes and to see “the town get back on track.”

THE CANDIDATES

David Hanson

AGE: 66

POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: President of Hanson Dry Dock

PREVIOUS ELECTED POSITION: Trumbull

County Democratic Party precinct committeeman

Kenneth A. Kline

AGE: 55

POLITICAL PARTY: Independent candidate

OCCUPATION: Newton Falls mayor, senior pastor at Newton Falls First Christian Church

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: Newton Falls Board of Education, Craig Beach Village Council