Community Mobilization Coalition urges commissioners to hold public hearings before moving Board of Elections out of Youngstown

Reverend Kenneth L. Simon, chairman of the Community Mobilization Coalition of Greater Youngstown, told the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners the coalition is asking the county to reconsider a proposed move of the Board of Elections and possibly other county offices to the county-owned Austintown building and to hold public hearings before a final decision.

“Moving the board of elections outside of the city would further disenfranchise voters in the city of Youngstown who already have challenges with transportation to participate in the election process,” Reverend Simon said, reading a letter signed on behalf of 25 member organizations.

Simon asked whether the county had performed research into alternatives within Youngstown that could accommodate the needed departments and emphasized that Youngstown, as the county seat, has the largest population of registered voters. He requested that commissioners schedule public hearings and provide a direct response to the coalition before making a final decision.

A county commissioner responded that “nothing's been decided,” said officials are looking at options for the Austintown site and that some departments — including Job and Family Services — would remain in the city. “JFS will never move out of the city. I promise you that,” the commissioner said. The commissioner also noted practical issues being considered, such as parking and building uses already planned for the Austintown property, and said the county would review options and follow up.

No formal decision was recorded at the meeting. Commissioners acknowledged the coalition's request and asked for time to review alternatives and to provide answers about how any move would affect access for vulnerable populations.