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LORDSTOWN --Voters in the village have named Jackie Woodward as their first woman mayor starting January.
Unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Election had Woodward, a Lordstown Board of Education member, receiving 32 % of the vote. Councilman Robert Bond earned 30%, political newcomer Danielle Watson received 21% and former school board member Mark McGrail had 17%.
The four candidates were seeking to replace current Mayor Arno Hill, who is stepping down at the end of the year after 30 years of service. He served as mayor from 1992 to 2003 and from 2012 to the present. He served as a councilman from 2006 to 2011.
At her home Tuesday evening, Woodward said she focused on "honesty and keeping the race clean" while campaigning in the village.
"I was shocked when I saw I had won but I was glad to see it went that way," she said.
After six years on the school board, she will vacate her seat at the end of December to become mayor on her birthday Jan. 1.
"Arno Hill's birthday is Jan. 2," she said. "It must be a mayoral thing and you have to be a Capricorn to be mayor."
Woodward said her goals as mayor include bringing more residential housing options to the village, fostering entrepreneuership and encouraging small businesses to help them grow and become sustainable. She also wants to bring in more medical services for residents such as urgent care facilities and pharmacies.
Woodward said she will push for more communication between the village and residents.
"It's important to know where tax dollars are being spent." Woodward said. "I believe that Lordstown has a lot to offer, and I want to build on its good qualities. I don't have a hidden agenda and want to ensure that our village continues to grow in a healthy and prosperous way.
"I want to foster entreprenuership and encourage small businesses, promote them and help them overcome hurdles so eventually they will grow and become sustainable long-term. I want to connect residents with other residents and bring back the team spirit if supporting others within our community."
She said she will work with council and department leaders to promote guided growth where residents and small businesses benefit the most.
Other candidates were Bond, who is currently serving his fourth term on village council, McGrail, who served 12 years on the village board of education, and Watson, who is marking her first run for public office.