HOWLAND — Business as usual will continue for the township’s board of trustees in 2026, as a pair of longtime officials are in the lead in this year’s four-person race.

James LaPolla leads with 37% of the vote, while Matthew Vansuch is his next closest challenger at 34%. Theo Kafantaris and Dawn Nicholas trailed behind with 10% and 17% of the votes, respectively, according to complete and unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

LaPolla, first elected trustee in 2013 and seeking his fourth term in the office, said he was “very, very happy” with the results of the election, thanking his wife and family for their support.

“Matt (Vansuch) and I will continue to do a good job that we’ve done these past four years — he and I are a good team,” LaPolla said. “Along with Frank (Dillon), we’re going to keep Howland in a positive fashion in the future.”

LaPolla also gave kudos to Kafantaris and Nicholas for running a “good, clean and professional” race.

“By obtaining their vote, it gives me the confidence that we’re doing the right thing for the constituents of Howland,” LaPolla added.

LaPolla also issued a joint statement on behalf of himself and Vansuch regarding the road levy, which he said Township Administrator James Pantalone informed him had passed. Complete and unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections show the levy passed by a wide margin, 68% to 32%.

“Matt and I would like to thank the voters of Howland for renewing the road levy; we are going to continue to utilize the funds in the best possible way to get the highest mileage of roads paved,” LaPolla said.

Vansuch, who was first elected in 2009 and seeking his fifth term on the trustees board, thanked the voters for their confidence in them — in what he expected to be a “momentous time” in Howland’s history.

“We’re up to the challenge, we’re ready for any challenges that come our way,” Vansuch said, referring to the potential abolishment of property taxes. “We are lightning-focused on making sure our residents continue to get those services that they expect from our great township employees.”