Youngstown Times

State Representative Monica Robb Blasdel recently hosted a Mayor's Roundtable Meeting in Lisbon, Ohio. The meeting brought together nearly 20 local mayors, city managers, and guests from the 79th House District to discuss important local projects and address key issues facing the area. The special guest for the meeting was Penny Traina, the CEO of the Columbiana County Port Authority. Columbiana County Commissioner Tim Weigle was also present to provide an update on the state of the county.

Representative Robb Blasdel emphasized the importance of collaboration and bringing together different voices to ensure the growth and prosperity of the communities in the 79th District. She said, "Having so many voices in the same place collaborating on how to keep communities in the 79th District growing is critical to our future. Whether it is hearing current project updates, finding out how the Port Authority is spurring economic growth, or what opportunities are coming with the Strategic Community Investment Fund, bringing everyone together is important."

The Mayor's Roundtable Meeting, initiated by Representative Robb Blasdel in 2023, serves as a platform for local leaders to collaborate, discuss ongoing projects, and gain insights into topics of interest to the area. Previous meetings have featured presentations from organizations like JobsOhio/TeamNEO and Kent State University.

The roundtable participants included a diverse group of mayors and representatives from various municipalities in the district. Some of the attendees were Fred May from Summitville, Chad Edwards from East Palestine, Peter Wilson from Lisbon, Robert Boley from Wellsville, Marsha Bolan from Rogers, Rick Noel from Columbiana, Bobby Ritchey and Brittany Smith from the Columbiana County Port Authority, Becky Kibler from Hanoverton, Lance Willard from Columbiana, Robert Smith from East Liverpool, Shane Patrone from New Waterford, Chad Bettis from Salineville, Benjamin Gunderson from Minerva, Kevin Siembida from Leetonia, Timothy Tarbet from Minerva, and Penny Traina from the Columbiana County Port Authority.

The Mayor's Roundtable Meeting serves as a valuable platform for local leaders to come together, exchange ideas, and work towards the common goal of enhancing the communities in the 79th House District. It provides an opportunity for collaboration, project updates, and learning about important initiatives that drive economic growth and development in the area.