NILES — Two incumbent councilmen-at-large and a former councilman have been selected as Democratic candidates for Niles City Council’s three council at-large seats.

Unofficial and incomplete results in Tuesday’s primary election had Michael Lastic receiving 29.68% of the votes, Jimmy Julian with 24.28% of the votes, Edward Stredney with 24.42% and Mindy Devorich with 21.61%

Lastic was the top vote-getter in the four-person race. All three will face Geo Kuriatnyk in the fall if his independent filing is certified by the board of elections. No Republicans filed for the seats.

“I appreciate the support from the citizens of Niles. They have always been good to me. I stand for what is best for the entire city, not one individual, or one group but everyone,” he said.

Lastic said when he makes a decision, it is always for what is best for all residents.

“Keeping the city financially sound is the key to success for the city. The city has been through some rough times, but has been able to turn things around,” Lastic said.

Julian said he has always focused on making Niles business-friendly and family-friendly

“That is what I have always focused on since coming on council,” he said.

Julian said he always focused on keeping the promises he made, including focusing on infrastructure improvements and revitalization of the community.

He said he appreciated the support of the community in voting for him to return to council.

Julian, who has served as councilman at-large since 2021, said he believes his platform and the things he has advocated for since taking office have been implemented and continuously practiced.

He said he will be a strong advocate for fighting blight throughout the community. Julian said since being a councilman, 40 blighted and dilapidated structures (commercial and residential) have been demolished throughout the city, which protects property values.

Stredney said he credits his return to council to the support from residents who remember when he served 10 years ago.

“My message has been to keep moving the city forward and focus on economic development,” Stredney said.

He said he served first as a councilman at age 23 and now 20 years later is returning.

“I will be attentive to the needs of the residents and respect the community,” he said.

Stredney, who has served five terms as a 3rd Ward councilman, said he will focus on utility planning, noting that Niles infrastructure is getting older as each year passes.

He said there needs to be long-term planning on how to address and maintain waterline replacements, both storm and sanitary sewer replacements and upgrades, and maintaining and upgrading the electrical grid within the city.

WARD RACES

For council’s 2nd Ward race, incumbent Aaron Johnstone received 58% of the votes to former councilman Reggie Giancola’s 42%, according to unofficial and incomplete results from the board of elections. Johnstone, who has served as 2nd Ward councilman since 2024, said that last year the city made major investments into the city parks and said he is eager to continue to be a champion for future investments as well.

Johnstone said last year he championed the charge to put a moratorium on small box / dollar stores in the city as well as storage facilities

In the 4th Ward race, two political newcomers were competing for the seat. Frank Leskovec received 60% of the votes and Stan McCauley had 40% of the votes. Both were seeking to replace 4th Ward Councilwoman Mindy Devorich, who is leaving the seat at the end of the year.

Devorich ran for a council at-large seat in Tuesday’s election, but placed fourth for three seats

Leskovec said he will focus on continuing with capital improvements to update infrastructure including roads and waterlines. He said he also will advocate for stormwater improvements in the 4th Ward to alleviate neighborhood flooding.

Leskovec, who has been a 40-year licensed Realtor, said his area of expertise is knowledge of the housing market in Trumbull and Mahoning counties, specifically the Niles 4th Ward.