Latest news with #KenSimon
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Debate continues over whether or not to move board of elections out of Youngstown
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – There are still no decisions on moving Mahoning County departments from one facility to another but that hasn't stopped people from lobbying county commissioners. For months, there's been a debate over whether or not to move the board of elections out of Oak Hill Renaissance Place and into the Patriot Building in Austintown. Opponents argue it would lead to fewer inner-city residents coming out to vote. Still, Elections Board Chairman Dave Betras insists the office and its voting equipment need to find a new home. 'All of us — the two Republicans and the two Democrats — that took an oath to preserve, and protect, and defend those votes and those voting machines, we are violative of that because that building is not working,' he said. 'The fact that this move has been proposed and being pushed by the board of elections without any public hearings or input from the residents of the county that it would affect the most is totally unfair,' said Pastor Ken Simon, with the Community Mobilization Coalition. Commissioners told the audience they are still considering their options and do not have a timeline in place to make their decision. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
County officials willing to consider other locations for elections office
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Days after voicing concerns over the possible move of Mahoning County's Board of Elections, opposition to leaving Oak Hill Renaissance Place in Youngstown is not dying down. 'Here's how it affects the city residents, residents of the City of Youngstown — it restricts access to the board of elections,' said Ken Simon, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church. Simon was one of a number of local Black leaders attending Thursday's county commissioners' meeting, saying the suggested move to the recently purchased Patriot Building in Austintown would create transportation issues for inner city voters, many of whom don't drive. 'Which, again, discourages city residents, who are already challenged, from voting,' Simon said. 'To move it outside of Youngstown, Youngstown's population is still close to 30% of the county's population,' said Youngstown City Councilwoman Anita Davis. She raised a different idea — moving to the now vacant Chill Can property on the lower east side. 'It would save money, save your money and my money, to make those changes there,' Davis said. While no one from the board of elections attended Thursday's meeting, Chairman Dave Betras says he's willing to look at other locations as long as it's away from Oak Hill Renaissance Place. Commissioner Geno DiFabio says while it's clear the elections office needs to leave Oak Hill, officials are still looking over their options. 'There's going to be ramifications wherever we move. We're certainly not going to try to disenfranchise anybody's vote — that's the last thing I would want,' DiFabio said. At this point, no decisions have been made and there's no timeline to make them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
