YOUNGSTOWN — While Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti, a Democrat, is undecided if she will seek a fifth term next year, at least four Republicans are interested in the seat.

They are county Recorder Richard S. Scarsella of Boardman, a former educational service center governing board member; Canfield City Council President Christine Oliver, Combined Insurance’s Northeast Ohio agency leader; Mike Young of Berlin, who owns a construction company; and Steve Jones of Youngstown, who owns an insurance agency.

“We have a number of people interested in the position and I expect there to be more,” said Mahoning Republican Chairman Tom McCabe. “It’s a high priority race for us in 2026. We’re focused on it. We’re raising money now for 2026 to retain the auditor (Ralph Meacham) and take the commissioner’s seat.”

Rimedio-Righetti of Youngstown, first elected commissioner in 2010, said of running for reelection next year: “I am undecided at this point. It’s so early for me to make that judgment call on what I’m going to do.”

While she hasn’t made an official announcement, the belief is Rimedio-Righetti, who beat Republican Geno DiFabio by only 130 votes in 2022, won’t run for reelection.

Mahoning was a Democratic stronghold for decades until Republicans started making inroads about a decade ago and won five county executive branch seats in the 2024 election. For the first time in almost 90 years, more Republicans hold county executive offices in Mahoning than Democrats.

Mahoning Democratic Chairman Chris Anderson said: “We’ve heard from many people who are interested and we’ve proactively approached candidates. Once Carol makes a final decision then we can be more public with what’s happening in the race. Many people have expressed interest in running for commissioner, and we’ve had conversations with them. Commissioner Rimedio-Righetti has given so much and we’ll wait until she makes a decision before we move forward.”

RICHARD SCARSELLA

Scarsella, who won the county recorder election in November with 51.48% of the vote over longtime Democratic incumbent Noralynn Palermo, said he’s interested in next year’s commissioner race. Scarsella has held the recorder’s position for about three months.

“These opportunities to be commissioner don’t come up very often,” he said. “The election for commissioner would be more than one and a half years away. If you’re going to run for a higher office, it helps to have experience and name recognition. I’m well known.”

Scarsella served on the county educational service center governing board for 20 years before he took over as recorder. He was honored earlier this week by the Ohio School Boards Association for his two decades on the board. He unsuccessfully ran in 2011 for Boardman trustee and in 2003 for a seat on the Boardman school board.

CHRISTINE OLIVER

Oliver said she’s considered running for county commissioner for six years.

“I didn’t run before (in 2022 and 2024) because I knew Geno was running,” she said. “I focused on my nonprofit, my business and my family.”

Oliver, Combined Insurance’s Northeast Ohio agency leader, was the top vote-getter in the 2023 election for Canfield council and serves as its president. She was elected to the city’s council in 2017 and lost reelection two years later by six votes.

Oliver lost the 2016 county treasurer race to Democrat Daniel Yemma with her 38.16% being the highest percentage for any Republican running for a contested county executive branch seat that year. She’s also unsuccessfully sought appointments to the Ohio House in 2020 and last year.

“I truly love representing the residents of Canfield,” she said. “I love the things we’re doing in the city, and I want to do it on the county level. It’s time.”

MIKE YOUNG

Young, who owns Mike Young Construction, has been involved in Republican politics for several years. This would be his first time seeking elected office.

“I like helping people and I want to do my part and be a voice for the people,” Young said. “I want to help people, particularly in the western part of the county. We feel like we’re forgotten. With my experience of employing 30-plus people and I’m a Christian man, I’ve received an outpouring of support from elected leaders and business people.”

Young said: “The county says, ‘We need a change from the past 75 years,’ and they feel the Republican Party can provide it.”

DiFabio, who was elected commissioner in 2024, is endorsing Young.

“He’s a good man and he can do the job,” DiFabio said of Young. “He’s got my support.”

Young is leaving Sunday for his 10th trip to help western North Carolina residents who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. He’s also volunteered on mission trips to Jamaica.

Juan Santiago, vice president and community development officer for Farmers National Bank, has a website touting his 2026 candidacy for commissioner and has had fundraisers for the position. But he has decided to not seek the office, McCabe said.

Steve Jones, the fourth Republican who has expressed interest in the seat, did not return messages seeking comment.