Mamula considers Senate run

The county's recorder is the only announced candidate for the state Senate seat.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Mayor Daniel Mamula is giving serious consideration to running for the state Senate seat being vacated by Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown.
"With the seat open, I feel it's an opportune time to take at look at state office," Mamula said. "It's worth looking at. It's tempting."
Mamula said he would make a decision in a week. The filing deadline is Feb. 21.
Mamula has served in elected office in Struthers for 21 years including the past 11 as mayor.
Gerberry: Mahoning County Recorder Ronald V. Gerberry, an Austintown Democrat who served 19 years in the Ohio House, is running for the Senate position.
"I have a great deal of respect for Dan Mamula," Gerberry said. "He's been a great mayor. Everyone has the right to run, but I hope he doesn't."
Gerberry said based on his years of political experience and accomplishments, he is the most qualified person for the seat.
The district includes all of Mahoning and Carroll counties and portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties. Mahoning makes up 75 percent of the 33rd District's population.
Irritated: Mamula said he was somewhat put off by Gerberry's announcement last week that he would run for state Senate, a day after Hagan stated he would not seek re-election and instead run for Congress.
"Everybody seems to have already made up their minds that this is mine and this is yours," he said. "I don't understand that part. It kind of irritated me a little bit."
Mamula said it makes no difference who he would face for state Senate. But Mamula realizes Gerberry has successfully run countywide in the past while he has only won in Struthers.
"If I decide to run for something, it doesn't matter who the opposition is," Mamula said. "I run because I feel like I can win."
Drawbacks to running for state Senate, Mamula said, are the strains it could put on his family, the travel to and from Columbus, and raising the money needed to run a viable campaign.
"I'd like to see what the reaction is to be honest with you," Mamula said about his potential candidacy.
Commissioner seat: Mamula said he has been asked to also consider running for county commissioner, but he has no interest in seeking that position.
"Once I looked at it, I didn't particularly care for the job" of commissioner, Mamula said. "I see a lot of responsibility and no authority in those jobs. That just didn't suit me or my personality very well."
State Rep. John Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat, said he will have a decision shortly on running for state Senate. Boccieri had originally said he was running for the job, but is now leaning toward not entering the race.
skolnick@vindy.com