Approximately 2019 registered voters in Madison Township will have the opportunity to decide which two of the three candidates will fill the two Board of Trustees seats up for grabs in the 2025 General Election to be held on Nov. 4 or during the early voting period which started Oct. 7.

Candidates include Robert Bruce Barrett – Incumbent, Wayne Chamberlain – Incumbent and Duane Nickell – challenger.

Voters can vote for two of the three candidates.

Robert Bruce Barrett, 71, East Liverpool Road, Lisbon

Robert Bruce Barrett, a graduate of East Liverpool High School has been employed by First Energy and St. Clair Township.

He is a resident of Lisbon, is married with no children.

Barrett has held the position of township trustee since 2020. He was appointed to the position of trustee to fill an unexpired term. He has previously lost elections for township trustee. He has never been convicted of a felony.

Barrett says he is seeking reelection to have better roads and get more chip and seal in the township.

He lists his three biggest accomplishments while serving as a trustee as obtaining a new track hoe, a new building and better roads.

He said residents should vote for him based on his experience.

He describes himself as forthright and honest.

“I do as much as I can do to accomplish what I said I’d do,” Barrett said. “I listen to people.”

Wayne Chamberlain, 70, Buckeye Road, Lisbon

Wayne Chamberlain has served with the West Point Volunteer Fire Department for 54 years, with 49 of those years as fire chief. In addition to the fire department, Chamberlain has worked for the Madison Township Road Department as equipment operator/road foreman for 32 years, Chamberlain Coal Company doing underground mining for 14 years and Jays Gas Station/Convenience Store for five years.

Chamberlain, who is married with three children and five grandchildren, is active in the East Liverpool First Nazarene Church.

Chamberlain, who will mark his 10th year as a township trustee in December, has never lost an election for public office and has never been convicted of a felony.

Chamberlain was initially appointed as a trustee to fill an unexpired term vacated after a trustee passed away. He then ran was elected for the position and then reelected. He also serves as a township member of the Columbiana County 911 Committee and the Columbiana County Hazard Mitigation Committee.

Chamberlain list his qualifications for office as his employment with the township road department where he has operated all of the township equipment, an understanding of road maintenance including chip and seal roads, dirt roads, culvert pipe installations, storm repair, equipment purchases, working with other public entities, utility companies and being able to understand and work with the public.

Chamberlain said he is seeking reelection because he enjoys working with the public.

“I enjoy working with others for the benefit of Madison Township,” Chamberlain said. “I want to be able to continue to move the township forward in a positive way.”

Chamberlain list his three biggest accomplishments as a trustee as being able to improve township roads, the addition of approximately four additional miles of chip and seal roads and help to oversee the construction of a new equipment storage facility and a salt storage facility.

“I am a lifelong resident of Madison Township, and I always have the residents’ best interest as heart,” Chamberlain said on why he should be re-reelected. “I am always truthful with residents and always return calls, as well as being uniquely qualified due to my many years of working and supervising road maintenance, as well as my experience in working with the public.”

Chamberlain also noted he is not in favor of any new taxes.

Duane Nickell, 55, Y Camp Road, Lisbon

Duane Nickell, a graduate of Beaver Local and Kent State University, is also an alum of the Columbiana County Career Technical Center’s welding program and is a State Of Ohio licensed electrical contractor.

His work history includes Croft Family Farms, Hall’s Welding and Supplies, Jarvis Electric, co-founder Protech Electric, founder Nickell Farms and co-founder and CFO of 5c Medical LLC.

Nickell is current the vice-president of the Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull County Cattlemen’s Association.

He is also serving his second term on the Columbiana County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, where he has served for four years in which held the chairman’s seat for three years.

He has never been appointed to a public board. He ran in a previous election and lost the primary for the county commissioner race in 2024.

He is a former board member of IEC Western Reserve Chapter which operated an apprenticeship school.

Nickell has been married for 23 years and has three sons.

Nickell lists his qualifications for trustee as his many years of business experience which he believes uniquely qualifies him for the position, extensive experience with construction projects in both private and public sectors, management of public construction projects, requiring understanding and implementation of project specifications with attention to detail.

He also lists his experience from his electrical contracting business where he managed personnel and trained tradesmen while maintaining the bookkeeping and accounting, his familiarity with government accounting and fiscal oversight of a government entity though his role as Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor. He noted that through that role he has developed the skillset to work closely with county, state and federal agencies and introduced successful practices to improve employee review and retention processes and assisted in developing operational and personnel policy for the district. He was recently a statewide presenter in an educational series for district supervisors.

Nickell said he is seeking the office of trustee because of the years he has had many township residents ask him to consider it.

“Through my role at the Columbiana County Soil and Water District I have been inspired to serve my community in any capacity available to me. To hold a public office is a great honor and comes with the duty to serve your community to the best of your ability,” Nickell said. “The position of Madison Township Trustee provides me with the best opportunity to be beneficial to my local community.”

Nickell believes any organization will always benefit from a fresh perspective, and that is why he believes residents should vote for him. He said he can bring a unique set of experiences and insights to the township through a trustee role, and his ability to work collaboratively has been well established in his work through the Columbina County Soil and Water District Board of Supervisors.

“I have a track record of improving management processes and procedures in leadership roles I’ve held,” Nickell said. “My three successful business ventures were built from the ground up. If elected Madison Township Trustee, I will bring the same commitment and work ethic that I have shown in building my businesses.”

Nickell invites voters to visit his website www.electnickell.com of his Elect Nickell Facebook page for additional information on him.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com