MAYORAL RACE Publisher picks up ballot petitions

YOUNGSTOWN -- The mayoral race in Youngstown might see more competition, as a local businessman is circulating petitions to be on the general election ballot in November.
Mike Sciortino, Mahoning County Board of Elections director, confirmed that Mike McNair, publisher of the Buckeye Review newspaper here, has picked up petitions for the election.
Mayor George McKelvey will be looking for his second and final term in that office, and Donald Connelly also will be running as a write-in candidate. McKelvey would not be eligible for a third term because of term limits.
Sciortino could not say for sure if McNair will enter the race. He said no one is considered a candidate until he or she has filed the required petitions with the board of elections.
To be on the ballot, McNair would have to secure a minimum of 210 signatures, but no more than 630 signatures. Those names would have to be to the board of elections no later than 4:30 p.m. May 7, one day before the primary elections.
McNair was out of town and unavailable for comment.