A Hanni will run for school board

Six candidates are seeking the two-year term on the Youngstown school board.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Hanni filed the necessary paperwork to run as a write-in for an unexpired two-year term on the Youngstown Board of Education -- but not the one you might expect.
Don L. Hanni III, a former board of education member, had said he was going to run as a write-in candidate for the unexpired term. But Hanni said he realized he doesn't have time to run an effective write-in campaign.
Instead, his father, Don L. Hanni Jr., former 16-year chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party, filed Monday to run as a write-in. It's been 32 years since the elder Hanni ran for public office; his last bid was for Youngstown mayor, which he lost. Previously, he had served as a municipal court judge.
"I want to find out how many of my enemies have died; I'll be able to tell by the turnout," Hanni quipped. "If I get elected, that's fine, but I'm not one to complain about the darkness and not light a candle."
High-school issue: Hanni said he is not at all pleased by the direction taken by the school board and is particularly bothered that the district is building a central high school on the east side of the city instead of near Youngstown State University and the Choffin Career Center, which would benefit students.
"Do you think there's anyone on that ... school board who is in danger of falling over from a brain hernia?" Hanni said.
Hanni lives at 1440 N. Stateline Road in Coitsville, which is in the Youngstown school district, making him eligible to run.
Six write-ins: He is among six people running as write-ins for the two-year board seat. Also filing Monday was David Scott Signor of 222 Hollywood Ave. in Youngstown.
The four other candidates are: Clarence Boles of 3329 Idlewood Ave.; the Rev. Jeffrey Smith of 1943 Medford Ave.; Michael K. Write of 444 Carlotta Dr., and Neil Buzzacco of 1488 McCollum Road.
Buzzacco was among nine candidates who were going to be on the Nov. 6 ballot vying for three four-year terms on the school board. But Buzzacco withdrew last week to run as a write-in candidate for the two-year term.
No candidates filed nominating petitions for the two-year seat. Because of that, whoever gets the most write-in votes -- as long as they filed as write-in candidates by Monday's deadline -- will win.
skolnick@vindy.com