KNOX TOWNSHIP — Two seats on the Knox Township Board of Trustees will be decided during the Nov. 4 general election. Three candidates are on the ballot.

Incumbents Gregory Carver and Matthew Johnston seek reelection, while Mike Helm looks to take one of the seats.

Carver, 69, has served five terms as trustee, winning for the first time in 2006. Among his achievements as a trustee, Craver cites his role in the construction of the MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communication Systems) tower on Knox Township property which enhanced communication for local fire departments as well as Ohio State Patrol, Columbiana County Sheriff, Ohio Department of Transportation, Emergency Management and Homeland Security. He also cited a new salt storage building and spring cleanup day each year as successes.

Carver said he wants to keep leading the township in the right direction.

“I decided to seek another term in office because I would like to continue improvements moving forward such as road improvements, bridge repair or replacement, fire protection, cemetery maintenance, waste disposal (spring clean up day) as well as financial responsibility, transparency, and accountability,” Carver said. “I would like to continue to serve and see projects that will enhance and be efficient for residents in our rural area. As a lifelong resident of the township, I understand many of the problems encountered in our township and surrounding communities and plan to continue researching ways to take action in a positive manner.”

Carver lives with his wife Phyllis on Homeworth Road in Homeworth. They have three daughters, Carrie Carver, Megan Windham and Jessica Carver; and grandchildren Reece, Kennedy, Ashtyn, Ameila, Henry and Johnny.

“As a lifelong resident of Knox Township, I understand many of the problems encountered in our township and surrounding communities and research ways to take action in a positive manner,” Carver added. “With the current construction of an underground fiber network in Knox Township, I would like to continue to work with the contractors to enhance internet accessibility for our underserved residents. I have worked hard over the years and continue to strive for the best interests of all Knox Township residents as well as surrounding communities. I take pride in listening to the concerns of all residents and respect their concerns at all times.”

Carver is currently employed with Benesch Engineering and is retired from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Columbiana County with previous experience with Vasco Asphalt in Massillon from 2002 to 2005, Park Farms in Canton from 2001 to 2002, McQuilkin Lumber in Homeworth from 1986 to 1994 and 2000 to 2001 and American Steel Foundries in Alliance from 1974 to 2000.

A West Branch graduate, Carver holds a Bachelors of Art from the University of Mount Union and master’s degree in Public Administration from Kent State University as well as numerous certificates that pertain to his occupation including Highway Technician III C/M at Ohio Department of Transportation, State of Ohio E.M.S./ Firefighter Certificate, for emergency situations, current CPR, and certificates of training as a public elected official from Secretary of State, Ohio.

Carver has served on the Appalachian Broadband Initiative Task Force as a local community official, Ohio Mideastern Governments Administration (OMEGA) and Columbiana County Township Association as Legislative Committee person. He currently is an active member of Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull Cattleman Association and is a West Branch Athletic Booster Club Sponsor.

Johnston, 56, has served two terms as township trustee, was appointed as Chairman of Knox Township Trustees for two years currently serving as vice chair and is a 2020 graduate of Ohio Township Association of Leadership Academy.

“There are approximately 3,300 trustees in the State of Ohio and, in 2020, I was one of 30 trustees to graduate from the Ohio Township Association Leadership Academy, which was created by the OTA, OSU Extension: Office of Community Development and the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs at Miami University for the purpose of enhancing the leadership and decision making skills of the township leadership,” Johnston said. “There are only 20 Columbiana County trustees that have graduated from this program, and I was the first trustee from Knox Township to achieve this, and, to date, I am the only trustee from Knox Township to have graduated from this program.”

As trustee, Johnston lists among his accomplishments the purchasing of “almost all new equipment” for the street department, construction of the new township equipment storage building “utilizing American Rescue Plan Funds rather than from tax money from Knox Township residents” and additional miles of new road added to the county chip-and-seal program as well as working “with the oil and gas companies on continued maintenance of township roads” and “with Encino Energy to receive grants for our fire departments to purchase rescue equipment that would have otherwise been unaffordable.”

Johnston said he is proud of what he has accomplished but noted “there is more to be done.” He said he wants to “remain a Knox Township Trustee to continue to make a positive impact for the Township and residents.”

He added that he has been a seven-year attendee of the Ohio Township Associations’ annual conference held in Columbus which provides over 90 educational workshops, including leadership courses to choose from and networking opportunities to meet fellow township officials from all across Ohio.

Johnston is also the current Vice President of Homeworth Volunteer Fire Company and has served as the Knox Township Representative on the Columbiana County Steering Committee. He is a Lieutenant for Homeworth Volunteer Fire Department and Firefighter II EMR, serves on the Mile Branch Grange Arena Committee, is a National Weather Service Trained Skywarn Spotter at Columbiana County Career & Technical Center and a Columbiana County Farm Bureau member for over 30 years.

A 1987 graduate of West Branch High School, Johnston is a John Deere trained technician and a farmer. Since 1970 he has worked with his father Albert (A.J.) Johnston and brother Ben, operating Willow View Farms. They currently have a 60-head beef cow/calf herd and farm over 600 acres of land. He has also owned and operated Willow View Machine for the past 22 years doing farm equipment repair for farmers in Knox Township and surrounding counties. Previously, he worked at Fryfogle Farms for five years and Cope Farm Equipment for 14 years.

He lives on Hartley Road in Alliance with his wife Melissa. They have two daughters, Heather (Jake) Carter and April (Mike) Thorne, and four grandchildren, Ethan, Eva, Klayten, and Addyson.

Helm, 66, is a well-known name in the township and the West Branch School District as a teacher and coach for 40 years.

Helm said that after 25 years of living, working, and raising his family here, he believes “it’s time to give back and help ensure Knox Township continues to grow and thrive for future generations.”

“As a candidate, I bring a unique perspective shaped by 40 years as a teacher, coach, and athletic director in this community,” Helm said. “The skills I developed — communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and fiscal responsibility — are the very same skills needed to be an effective trustee.”

Helm said his communication skills and value of a dollar are key.

“Communication is critical. Everyone has a stake in our community, and everyone deserves to know what decisions are being made and why. In today’s digital age, there is no reason our residents should not have clear and easy access to information,” he said. “I also understand the challenges of limited funding. For years, I fought to secure resources for our schools, whether through fundraising, grant writing, or working with legislators in Columbus. I know what it takes to stretch a dollar while still creating opportunities, and I will bring that same commitment and creativity to Knox Township.”

Helm is a graduate of West Branch, obtained a BS in Education 1-8 with a concentration in Math and Science and a reading validation for grades k-12 from Youngstown State and a Masters Degree in Sports Science from Ashland University.

A 25-year resident of Kno Township, Helm and his wife Debbie live on Center Road in Alliance and have five children, Adam, Shane, Stephanie, Dana and Kyle.

“We raised our kids here and this is a good community,” Helm said. “It is time to give back to a community that has been good to us.

“Throughout my career, I’ve prioritized building relationships, fostering growth, and advocating for opportunities, academic, athletic, and community-wide,” he added. “I’ve served on state-level committees, always with the goal of bringing more resources and possibilities back home. I’m ready to put that experience to work for Knox Township.”