WARREN — More than a dozen more candidates are jumping into the November election after filing by Monday’s deadline with the board of elections as independent candidates.

Cheryl Saffold, the 6th Ward councilwoman, threw her hat into the mayoral race. Incumbent Mayor Doug Franklin is facing Councilman at-Large Ken MacPherson in today’s Democratic primary.

Saffold ran as a Democrat for her current seat. According to the Candidates Requirement Guide published by the secretary of state, independent candidates must be unaffiliated with any political party. That decision is ultimately up to the board of elections.

Independent candidates can run in partisan races, such as city and village races, without a party label. However, this is a choice not to affiliate with a party. Nonpartisan candidates cannot be affiliated with a political party. These candidates include those running for school board and township trustee. The city of Cortland’s charter also dictates that all city officers are nonpartisan.

Nonpartisan candidates must file by Aug. 9.

Incumbent 1st Ward Councilman Todd Johnson also filed, as well as Lea Dotson, who filed for the 6th Ward. Honeya Price is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for the ward.

LORDSTOWN

Four people now are in the running for Lordstown mayor. No one had filed by the Feb. 1 partisan deadline.

Republican Mayor Arno Hill said previously that he decided to go into retirement after serving the public for 30 years between his time as mayor and on village council. He was mayor from 1992 to 2003 and from 2012 to the present. He was on council from 2006 to 2011.

Two of the people who filed now hold public office. Robert Bond is a councilman and Jackie Woodward is vice president of the Lordstown Board of Education.

Mark R. McGrail unsuccessfully ran for Lordstown council in 2019 and 2021. The fourth mayoral candidate is political newcomer Danielle Watson.

Incumbent Councilman Ronald Radtka is the only person to file for two council seats. He is president of council. Councilman Lamar Liming, whose term is up at the end of the year, did not file.

Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections, said village council will have to appoint someone to fill the seat for two years. After those two years, an election will determine who serves the rest of the unexpired term.

She said council also would appoint someone to fill Bond’s seat on council if he were to win the mayoral race. Bond’s current council term is not up until 2025.

Incumbent Clerk William Blank filed again for his seat. The board of elections lists him as a Democrat, although he holds his current seat as an independent. Stanley F. Czeck filed for a seat on the board of trustees of public affairs. The board of elections also lists him as a Democrat.

NILES

Three independents filed in Niles. Geo Kuriatnyk will challenge incumbent Democratic Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz, who is not challenged in today’s primary. No Republicans filed for the seat.

Kuriatnyk filed as a Democrat in 2019 to challenge Mientkiewicz, but dropped out that April. He then ran as a write-in candidate for Niles Council at-Large that same year and received 2.13 percent of the vote.

Andrew Cvetkovich filed as an independent for council at-Large. According to his online resume, he is an account manager at Thomas Steel Strip Corp.

Cvetkovich will face the top three vote-getters from today’s primary. Incumbents Jimmy Julian and Michael Lastic are running to keep their seats. They are challenged by 1st Ward Councilman Doug Sollitto, 3rd Ward Councilwoman Linda Marchese, and insurance agent and former Niles schools treasurer Lori Vlosich Hudzik.

Amy Jo Giovannone filed as an independent for 3rd Ward. Giovannone is the executive director of the nonprofit Sierra’s Sanctuary. According to its website, the nonprofit provides spiritual support and education for those dealing with trauma, addiction, grief and other life challenges, and fundraises for transitional housing facilities.

Giovannone will face James Sheely in the November election. Sheely is running unopposed in the primary.

On the ballot

The following candidates filed as independents for the Nov. 7 General Election by Monday’s deadline. An * denotes incumbents.

WARREN

Mayor: Cheryl Saffold

1st Ward: Todd Johnson*

6th Ward: Lea Dotson

NILES

Mayor: Geo Kuriatnyk

At-Large: Andrew Cvetkovich

3rd Ward: Amy Jo Giovannone

LORDSTOWN

Mayor: Robert Bond, Mark R. McGrail, Danielle Watson, Jackie Woodward

Clerk: William Blank*

Board of Trustees of Public Affairs: Stanley F. Czeck

Council: Ronald E. Radtka*