Gains secures seventh term as Mahoning prosecutor

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County's top lawman has earned another four years in office.

Democratic Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains defeated his former assistant prosecutor Marty Desmond, a Republican, in Tuesday's general election, according to unofficial results from the county elections board.

Gains, of Boardman, who's held the seat for 23 years, received 61,453 votes (54.6 percent) while Desmond, of Poland, received 51,110 votes (45.4 percent).

"I don't want to speak for the voters, but I'm presuming they realize that I did a good job and I'm honest, despite what my opponent said about me," Gains said. "I'm going to continue to provide honest services to the people of Mahoning County."

Desmond, who expressed nonconfidence in Gains' leadership and brought private litigation against the office for what he claims was a wrongful termination in 2017, didn't rule out a second run at the office.

Among non-judicial county races, the prosecutor race had the closest vote spread, though that was still more than 9,000 votes. Desmond thanked his race volunteers and supporters.

"Obviously, it's a disappointment. But I went into this race knowing it was going to be an uphill battle as a Republican in Mahoning County," Desmond said.

Desmond's 2018 defamation suit filed against the prosecutor's office is still winding its way through Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and could continue through June of next year, according to court records.

This story was originally published November 4, 2020 at 3:52 AM with the headline "Gains secures seventh term as Mahoning prosecutor."