HOWLAND — A former state representative is trying a political comeback by announcing his candidacy for Howland Township trustee.

Michael Verich of Howland said he has taken out petitions to run for the trustee position being vacated upon the retirement of longtime Trustee Rick Clark.

No other candidates have announced to run for the four-year term, which is on the Nov. 7 ballot. Petitions with valid signatures from Howland voters would have to be filed with the Trumbull County Board of Elections by August for Verich to be qualified for the ballot.

Verich, who first served on Warren City Council, was first elected to the Ohio House in November 1982, and was elected to nine terms.

An attorney, Verich also has served on State Employment Relations Board, the Ohio Lottery Commission, and is a board member on the Environmental Review Appeals Commission after being appointed to that board in 2018.

Verich points to the millions of dollars of state money he brought back to the district during his time in the Legislature.

He also served as a mobility manager for Trumbull County Transit Board before resigning in 2019. For more than two decades, he also has operated the Ohio Brewing Co., which has locations in Cuyahoga Falls and Columbus.

As a trustee, Verich said he would use his government experience to benefit Howland Township’s long-range plans for economic development, planning, and capital improvement projects, while also assisting the township in applying for state and federal grants.