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Todd Johnson delivers winning sermon

Reverend leads new faces on Warren council after defeating Larson

Staff photo / Raymond L. Smith Trumbull County Urban League Executive Director Thomas Conley, left, and the Rev. Todd Johnson share a laugh while waiting for the election results that showed Johnson likely will be the next Warren 1st Ward councilman after he defeated Larry Larson 57 to 43 percent, according to incomplete and unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

WARREN — The face of Warren council will change in January when the city will have at least three new members as incumbent councilman Larry Larson was defeated, Democrat Andrew Herman defeated Republican David Burnham in the 2nd Ward and the open 5th Ward seat will be filled by Democrat Ashley Miner.

First Ward voters had a choice between longtime community activist Larson and the Rev. Todd Johnson, pastor of Second Baptist Church, who fought a fierce campaign by door knocking on doors, being active on social media and having signs placed throughout the ward.

Larson focused on using his established network of community volunteers as the backbone of his campaign.

Johnson won with 57 percent of the vote, according to incomplete and unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

“I learned it is valuable to listen to people and care about the issues they are concerned about,” Johnson said. “To not assume that the way things have been going are acceptable to residents.”

Johnson said residents he talked to during this campaign are really concerned about the city’s future.

“What plans, new ideas and innovations we are attempting,” Johnson said. “A lot of people are dissatisfied with the lack of energy and innovations.”

Johnson said he will work to do the basics of streets, lights, potholes and sewers.

“I was surprised how many older residents were happy to see a young person running,” he said. “I was grateful to hear that.”

Johnson wants to be a visible face of the community.

“I want to hear about how we can make progress on things that are happening today,” he said. “Come up with community solutions.”

While Larson has been a ward councilman who addressed neighborhood issues, he also has addressed citywide issues, including the demolition of the former St. Joseph Riverside Hospital on Tod Avenue and the folding of the city’s police dispatch into the Trumbull County 911 Center.

2ND, 4TH WARDS

Herman, 55, a science teacher in the Howland School District, narrowly defeated longtime incumbent Councilman Alford Novak, D-2nd Ward, in the primary and won 72 percent of the vote over Republican candidate David C. Burnham in the general election, according to incomplete and unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

“Victory is always sweet,” Herman said. “I want to focus my attention of getting things done for my constituents, focusing on the problems they told me about as I was walking the ward.”

Herman described himself as a problem solver and said he hopes his background and skills will help address the needs of not only the 2nd Ward but the entire city.

“I will try my best to come up with solutions,” Herman said.

Herman said his goal will be to work with his fellow council members and the administration.

Incumbent Councilman Mark Forte, D-4th Ward, defeated Kristin Riley, who campaigned saying too many residents feel their voices were not being heard in city government.

Riley argued more focus should be placed on crime prevention, absentee landlords and neighborhood revitalization.

Forte said will use his new term to help bring in new businesses not only to the ward, but also to the city to strengthen the tax base.

5TH WARD

Miner won a four-way race for the open 5th Ward seat with 39 percent of the vote. Republican candidate Robert Marchese received 36 percent, while independent candidate Kamau Thornton received 23 percent of the vote. Koree McLennan withdrew from the race, but received 2 percent of the vote, according to incomplete and unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

After winning May’s primary, Miner promised she will be a council member who will listen and be responsive to her constituents.

“I am very humbled by this vote,” Miner said. “I am very appreciative to the residents who voted for me. I am looking forward to serving the people of the ward.”

As a new member of council, Miner admits she will have a lot to learn.

“I have a lot to learn about the ward,” she said. “I can’t be expected to know everything at once. I’m going to listen and try to absorb as much as possible. My goal is to do what is in the best interest of Warren citizens.”

AT-LARGE

Council at-Large incumbents Helen Rucker and Gary Steinbeck won re-election to their seats. Councilman Ken MacPherson, who has been serving as the 5th Ward councilman, won the third at-Large seat.

A seat became open because John Brown ran unopposed to become Warren City Council president.

Rucker said she is pleased with the vote.

“I look forward to working with the new council people, staying the course with the distribution of the $28 million. I want every community to get a portion,” Rucker said.

While MacPherson said he is looking forward to his new position as an at-Large councilman, he emphasized his goal remains to do the same kind of service he did as a ward councilman.

“I will just be working on a bigger scale,” MacPherson said. “My goal is to bring more accountability to how we do things. I want to allow people to see how their tax dollars are spent.”

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