Democrats select Boccieri for House leadership position

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
COLUMBUS -- State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown has been elected to the fourth-ranking Democratic leadership position in the next Ohio House.
House Democrats chose Boccieri, D-57th, on Tuesday to be assistant minority whip in the House that is seated in January.
House Democrats, who will be outnumbered by Republicans 62 to 37 next year, also chose state Rep. Chris Redfern, a Catawba Island Democrat, to be the House minority leader; state Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Columbus Democrat, to be the assistant House minority leader; and state Rep. Dale Miller, a Cleveland Democrat, to be the House minority whip.
"It's going to be significant for our region -- Northeast Ohio," Boccieri said of his selection.
As assistant Democratic whip, Boccieri will be involved in shaping policy, coordinating the minority party's caucus message and counting Democratic votes on key issues.
Redfern replaces state Rep. Dean E. DePiero, a Parma Democrat, as minority leader. DePiero had announced he wouldn't seek re-election to the post to concentrate on running for mayor in Parma in 2003.
In the current House, Democrats are outnumbered by Republicans 59 to 40.