Joe Merritt is running for Salem Township Trustee with a simple promise: focus on what works and put residents first. That starts with the basics: safe, well-maintained roads and ditches; dependable, well-supported emergency services; clear, open finances; and property standards that keep neighborhoods looking their best.

Joe brings real-world experience to the job. For 11 years, he has taught Diesel Power Equipment at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, where he manages labs, equipment, inventories, and budgets while training the next generation of technicians. Before that, Joe supervised teams and operations at Chesapeake Energy and built a local small business, Merritt Property Solutions. That mix, teaching, supervising, and entrepreneurship, shaped his approach: plan carefully, maintain equipment, track costs, and do the work right the first time.

A former volunteer firefighter in Barbour County, WV, Joe understands how coordination, readiness, and maintenance translate into faster response times and safer outcomes. He currently serves as a board member for Leetonia Youth Athletics, where he supports programs that help kids learn teamwork and responsibility.

Joe studied Auto Diesel Technology at Nashville Auto Diesel College and earned a degree in Technical Workforce Development from Bowling Green State University. He holds licensure as a Medium/Heavy Truck Technician.

As trustee, Joe will publish an annual, public road and drainage schedule; hold regular check-ins with police, fire, and EMS; and provide plain-language financial updates so residents can see where every dollar goes. He’ll insist on fair, consistent property standards, and pair them with clear communication and problem-solving for residents.

Joe’s leadership is neighborly and hands-on: open office hours, quick callbacks, and regular updates online. He’s not an incumbent, he’s a doer. If you want practical results you can see on your road and in your budget, vote Joe Merritt for Salem Township Trustee.