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NILES -- The Trumbull County GOP is looking for a candidate to run in the 1st Ward in Niles after questionable social media posts from the unopposed Democratic candidate surfaced.
Some posts from political newcomer Patrick "PJ" Kearney II contain strong, sometimes violent and sometimes sexualized language.
Kearney, who won the ward's Democratic primary in May, said the snippets of posts have largely been taken out of context or refer to personal, inside jokes and conversations.
Some posts criticize officers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for watching for traffic violators on Youngstown Warren Road, while other posts threaten violence against people Kearney said scammed his parents. One post from a year ago shows a photograph of a woman with a black eye with the words, "Know your role."
Kearney said he found the picture of the woman with the black eye online and posted it, not to support violence against women, which he said he is a strong advocate against, but to make a point in a personal, private conversation.
"People who know me know my sense of humor. They know I have not and would never abuse women, or support abuse against women," Kearney said.
Kevin Wyndham, chairman of the Trumbull County Republican Party said he got wind of the posts, though he is not familiar with their content. The situation leaves an opening for a Republican, write-in candidate, Wyndham said.
The party held a recruitment committee meeting last week and is hoping to identify a candidate at the committee's meeting this week, Wyndham said.
Wyndham said Niles is ready for some Republicans on city council. He said a fiscally conservative approach might be just what the city needs to lift it out of fiscal emergency -- a designation the city earned from Ohio Auditor Dave Yost in 2014 after several of its funds were in the red.
City council is made up solely of Democrats now, and the party has traditionally dominated council.
Write-in candidates have until Monday to file with the Trumbull County Board of Elections to run in the Nov. 7 election.
Kearney, 46, works in quality control at a Warren embroidery and silk screen business and has never held political office.
He said his critics are picking and choosing the posts that don't paint him in a good light. He said if he takes a seat on Niles City Council, he will use more restraint with his posts because he recognizes he will be a public figure and held to a higher standard.
"I knew when I ran I would be putting myself out there. I know I'm off the cuff and edgy. I've got a past, we all do. But people want to hear it how it is, and people who know me know I will do that," Kearney said.
Kearney said his ability to stir the pot and speak bluntly will make him a good councilman capable of bringing transparency to the people.
Dan Polivka, chairman of the Trumbull County Democratic Party, said he was disturbed to hear about the posts and he needs more information about the posts and to speak to Kearney before he could comment further.
The 1st Ward seat is being vacated by Councilman Frank Pezzano, a Democrat, who is not seeking re-election.