Political opponents question why Wheeling trustee elect stepped down

Wheeling trustee-elect Stuart Shapiro unexpectedly stepped down four days before he was supposed to take the oath of office, but two weeks later, a detailed explanation of why wasn't available.

In a letter to the village board before the May 4 swearing in of newly-elected officials, Shapiro said he could not assume the post he was elected to on April 7 due to unforeseen family and work obligations.

Shapiro, who unsuccessfully ran for village trustee five times before, could not be reached for comment Tuesday to further explain what those unforeseen circumstances were that led him to give up the office he had coveted for so long. Attempts to reach one of his key campaign officials also were unsuccessful.

Shapiro, 53, a health insurance company employee, served on the Wheeling plan commission for six years, and on the village zoning board for five years.

"Yes, I was surprised," Wheeling's newly-elected Village President Judy Abruscato said of Shapiro's decision to step down. But, she added, "you have to do what you have to do at work, and things do come up."

Abruscato appointed Raymond Lang, who served 20 years on the village plan commission, to fill Shapiro's seat for two years until another election can be held for Shapiro's remaining two-year term in 2011. She also appointed her campaign manager, David Vogel, to complete her unexpired two-year trustee term.

Charles Vallas, whom Shapiro had gotten kicked off the April 7 ballot and who later ran as a write-in candidate, isn't satisfied with Shapiro's excuse.

"I think it was disingenuous," Vallas said. "If he'd have backed out before the election, then (incumbent trustee) Mike Horcher would have won. - I think (Shapiro) needs to come up with a real explanation why he didn't take office. Things just don't come up in one week."

Shapiro was the third highest vote-getter with 1,445 votes after incumbent trustees Dean Argiris and Kenneth Brady vying for three 4-year village board seats. Mike Horcher lost his re-election bid with 1,285 votes. Vallas got 50 votes.

Horcher said Shapiro's reason for stepping down is "probably the weakest explanation he could give."

Argiris, among Shapiro's supporters, said he was disappointed Shapiro refused to take office but understood his reason for doing so.

"He's got a family to feed and he's got a job," Argiris said. "I commend him for stepping down and not taking the seat just to take the seat. We need people that are on the board and come to meetings."

Lang, 49, a lifelong Wheeling resident and a marketing consultant, said he never wanted to be a village trustee and it came as a surprise when Abruscato tapped him for the post.

"I always thought it was a lot of work, and boy was I right," said Lang, who served as plan commission chairman for four years until last November. "It's just a huge responsibility. I took it lightly before I actually stepped into the role. I'll make the time for it, and I actually enjoy doing it."