LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Election Day is just two weeks away, and on Monday night, candidates for the Perry Township Board of Trustees shared their visions with local voters.
At the “Perry Township Meet the Candidates” town hall, candidates Sasha Weigt, Scott Stombaugh, Rick Phillips and Frank Clementz met with residents before answering moderated questions. On Nov. 4, Perry Township residents will vote to fill two seats on the Perry Board of Trustees. During the town hall, Your News Now asked each candidate why they decided to put their name on the ballot for a trustee seat.
"I got involved when we're losing a lot of businesses in our township. Eastgate up here is my main concern. We have a lot of empty, vacant buildings. I'd like to see new restaurants, new businesses come in on our side and work with the county and try to generate some more business to this area. We have a great location here next to 75 and 309. I really like to develop this area a lot more," says Scott Stombaugh, Candidate for Perry Township Trustee.
"Right now, it seems like we're not going in the right direction where the township ought to be, so. I think it ought to be a little bit more people involved and let everybody know what's going on so we can go in the right direction. We need to be with more communication and a lot more transparency of what's happening and what's coming up in the community itself," says Frank Clementz, Candidate for Perry Township Trustee.
"I've been going to the township meetings for a few years now. I've noticed, along the way, that we have a very reactive approach to dealing with issues in the township, and my goal is just to see a little more proactive approach to dealing with issues. I just want to get ahead of things. I want to see the township develop a vision for what we want to see in the future," says Sasha Weigt, Candidate for Perry Township Trustee.
"I just think it's time for some new young, younger views and some better growth. We need some businesses to come into our township, and we got to get our financials to grow and they're not without the businesses coming in," says Rick Phillips, Candidate for Perry Township Trustee.
The fifth candidate and current Perry Township Trustee, Larry Sidener, was not present at tonight’s town hall.
