In an upset election, Chester Township voters ousted two incumbent trustees in the Nov. 7 general election.
According to final unofficial results of the Geauga County Board of Elections, Robert Rogish received 36.44 percent, or 2,036 votes, and Joe Mazzurco garnered nearly 20 percent, or 1,104 votes, to win the two open seats.
Another challenger, Patricia Jarrett, received 971 votes, or 17 percent, of the ballots cast, also topping incumbents Ward “Bud” Kinney and Michael Petruziello.
Kinney received about 15 percent of the vote with 864 ballots and Petruziello trailed with about 11 percent, or 613 votes.
“I think the community is looking for a fresh start,” Rogish said. “I am humbled with the support I received. I’ve sat in nearly all of the township meetings this year and have a good sense of the job that needs to be done.”
Reached by phone Tuesday night, Mazzurco said the residents felt left out of the decision-making process and they wanted to be represented by people who were more active in the community.
“Rogish is a good guy and we will work well together,” Mazzurco said. “I think my involvement with the school, the turf committee for the football field and the Chesterland Lions Club helped win votes.”
Regardless of the outcome, Kinney said it has been a great opportunity to serve as a trustee.
“It’s unfortunate that there were negative ads and letters distributed targeting certain candidates and robo calls from a ‘Bob Patterson’ making negative allegations,” he said.
“If Bob Patterson exists, he is not related and has no relationship with Patterson Fruit Farm, where I work,” Rogish added. “The only Bob Patterson I know of lives in Lake County. This name has been used in prior negative campaigns. Voters should not be subjected to unsigned letters that make unfair claims about candidates.”
Rogish said he is eager to start his term in office and hopes to be involved in the selection of new members to the Chester Township Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, along with selecting a new road superintendent.
“These are important positions that will help shape our future,” Rogish said.
