Who is Trent Conaway? Here’s what we know about the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio

East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway is slated to speak Wednesday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Conaway was the Mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, when a Norfolk Southern train derailed on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. Twenty of the 38 cars that derailed were carrying hazardous materials.

After the accident, Conaway was vocally critical of President Joe Biden, saying that his visit to Ukraine while the East Palestine situation raged on was “a slap in the face.”

Former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine , accompanied by Sen. JD Vance, now his running mate, on Feb. 22, 2023, just weeks after the incident.

The next day, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited the village, after being maligned by critics for not showing up sooner.

More: Was the train on fire? How security cameras pieced together the East Palestine derailment

Last November, the incumbent mayor won reelection by less than 200 votes, defeating Misti Allison.

This February, following the one-year anniversary of the train derailment, Biden visited the village.

Conaway thanked Biden, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation, the Ohio EPA and the Department of Public Safety.

Conaway acknowledged his agreement with the president regarding the necessity of addressing health and economic concerns for the village, as well as supporting bipartisan railway reform and tax relief.

Conaway went on to describe the East Palestine community as built upon pride, tradition and resilience.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who is Trent Conaway? Here’s what we know about the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio