EAST PALESTINE — East Palestine’s new village manager is now on the job. Antonio Diaz-Guy officially took over from acting manager Misti Martin last week after being hired by a unanimous vote during the Feb. 11 council meeting. Through a press release the Village of East Palestine said Diaz-Guy “brings a deep-rooted passion for the community, a wealth of experience, and a forward-thinking vision” to the role of village manager.

“The Village of East Palestine looks forward to the leadership and vision Antonio Diaz-Guy will bring to the role and welcomes the community’s engagement in shaping the future together,” the village said.

For East Palestine, Diaz-Guy’s hiring closes the door on a tumultuous 2024 that saw former village manager Chad Edwards resign in October citing an inability to bridge deep divides in the wake of the 2023 train derailment. Longtime council member and local leader Doug Simpson tendered his resignation just days later due to what he called unfair treatment of Edwards. Martin, the village clerk, was tabbed as acting manager until a replacement could be found.

Diaz-Guy, a lifelong resident of the East Palestine area, quickly emerged as one of the top candidates to replace Edwards and looks forward to helping guide the village he considers home to both recovery and revitalization.

“For me, it’s more than just a position. It’s a deeply personal and profoundly meaningful opportunity,” said Diaz-Guy. “Though I grew up in Negley, East Palestine was always the center of my world. Some of my best memories were made here, watching the town from the front window of Guy’s Bakery, strolling through the summer car show and exploring the park during the autumn craft festival. Now, I have the privilege of shaping the future of the town that shaped me.”

Ultimately, Diaz-Guy wants to do right by East Palestine that is still struggling to find its footing two years after the rail disaster.

“Leadership requires balancing complex trade-offs and making informed, decisive choices,” said Antonio. “Most importantly, I have always been guided by the principle of doing the right thing for the right reason, a value I will carry into this role.”

The village said that Diaz-Guy “is committed to fostering a thriving and business-friendly community, guided by a clear vision and set of core values” with a “mission is to drive economic and social growth by creating an environment where businesses and residents can flourish.”

Diaz-Guy’s key priorities for the future include strengthening public services and economic opportunities, encouraging a business-friendly environment to attract new investments, enhancing transparency and communication with residents and ensuring efficient and practical governance that delivers results.

“There are a lot of moving parts in this village. Before implementing change, it’s essential to understand how everything fits together,” he said. “By working collaboratively with residents, businesses, and local leaders, we can build a stronger future for East Palestine.”

Diaz-Guy holds degrees in Economics and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. During his time at Pitt, he was awarded multiple research grants focused on economic development and online reputation systems. Currently, he is just one class away from completing his master’s in business administration from Youngstown State University.

Professionally, Diaz-Guy background has been in the medical imaging and diagnostics field — a field that the village said “demanded adaptability, strategic decision-making, and leadership.”