Mahoning County commissioners install 2026 leadership, set Thursday meeting schedule

Mahoning County commissioners completed their annual reorganizational business on Jan. 12, installing board officers for 2026, appointing acting clerks and setting regular meetings for Thursday mornings at 10 a.m.

The session opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and the county auditor, Ralph Meacham, serving as temporary clerk. The board moved to nominate Commissioner DeFavio as temporary president and later confirmed a permanent president for the 2026 calendar year. Commissioners also moved to name a vice president for 2026.

The board approved Maria Knight as clerk of the board. The commissioners then approved appointments of Jamal Lloyd, deputy clerk, as first acting clerk, and Holly Mussolini Gooden (identified in the transcript as an executive director) as second acting clerk.

Meacham offered brief remarks on county finances and said he would return with a short presentation on five recently passed state bills that will directly affect local revenues and property tax provisions. According to the transcript, Meacham said he would present details "in the next month" to answer anticipated questions from commissioners.

The board voted to set the regular meeting schedule for Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. in the Commissioners' Hearing Room, with additional meetings to be posted with 24 hours' notice. The reorganizational portion concluded with a moment of silence for Leo Connolly Jr., described in the meeting as a longtime veterans advocate in the county.

The meeting moved from reorganizational business into regular agenda items after the leadership votes and scheduling motion passed. The next regular meeting was set for Jan. 15, 2026, at 10 a.m.