NILES — Incumbent Steve Mientkiewicz, a Democrat, defeated independent challenger Geo Kuriatnyk, 74% to 26%, with all 158 precincts reporting.

First Ward Councilman Todd Weddell, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Tina Collins 61% to 39%, according to unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

Mientkiewicz said he was thankful for Niles voters.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the voters of Niles for their continued support,” Mientkiewicz said. “We’ve had a lot of progress over the last four years, and we’re looking to continue to build off of the momentum and continue to move Niles forward over the next four years.”

Mientkiewicz said his top priority will continue to be the city’s fiscal solvency.

The Ohio Auditor’s Office placed the city in fiscal emergency in 2014 because of deficits in seven funds, including a $2.7 million deficit in the water fund and a $118,000 deficit in the sewer fund.

Under Mientkiewicz, Niles was released from fiscal emergency in March 2019.

Mientkiewicz also said he plans to continue to seek ways to support safety forces in Niles. He pointed to the city’s civil service commission and Niles Police Department, which in September announced they were streamlining their civil service exam for entry-level patrol officers in an effort to hire qualified candidates.

Mientkiewicz also pointed to the continuation of downtown revitalization and beautification as priorities for his administration.

“Our other main point of view is our city’s infrastructure and updating our infrastructure,” he said. “We have a lot of infrastructure plans over the next few years. Next year’s street resurfacing program will be the highest in my tenure as mayor.”

Weddell thanked his voters for their support.

“I would say naturally I’m very happy with the outcome,” he said. “A lot of hard work and a lot of good people helped me with this and put this together and voted for me and I look forward to serving the people who voted for me.”

Weddell, a Niles resident since 1978 and a structural technician at Howmet Aerospace / RMI, said he hopes to maintain the strong financial stability of the city as a member of city council.

Along with Mientkiewicz, Weddell also wants to promote strong safety and maintenance services in Niles.

He said he wants council to look for tools to continue to improve its safety forces.

Weddell also hopes to continue to stress the need for the city to continue resurfacing its roads as a member of council.

Weddell had a brief head start to his time on council. In September, former 1st Ward councilman Doug Sollitto was appointed to the at-Large council seat left vacant after Stephen Papalas’ resignation. After the departure of Sollitto, the city’s 1st Ward Democratic precinct committee selected Weddell to fill the remainder of the term through Dec. 31.

“It definitely has been a learning experience,” Weddell said. “(I) have gotten the opportunity to meet the people (I’ll) be working with for the next two years. It was a big step in the right direction. I think it’s been a big help to have the extra time.”