DEMOCRATIC PARTY 'Misleading' mailings result in complaint

The Canfield man who filed the complaint was defeated last month for his precinct committee seat.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A former precinct committeeman for the Mahoning County Democratic Party has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against the state party and Lisa Antonini, a candidate for county Democratic chairman.
The complaint by J. Robert Lyden of Canfield says that postcards mailed before last month's primary in support of about 60 county precinct committee candidates stating that the Ohio Democratic Party paid for and authorized the mailings, were misleading.
Lyden, a precinct committeeman since 1998, was soundly defeated last month by George D. Beelen, Antonini's candidate in Canfield city Precinct 3 and one of the 60 candidates who benefited from the mass mailing.
The state party allows candidates to use the Ohio Democratic Party's bulk mailing rate of about 9 cents to 10 cents, compared to the regular postcard rate of 21 cents each, as long as they get the permission of their county chairman and the state party, and that the state party's official postal marking -- "paid and authorized by the Ohio Democratic Party" -- is included on the mailings.
Routine practice
The campaign finance administrator for the Ohio Secretary of State's Office has said there is nothing wrong with the practice. Ohio Democratic officials say they routinely provide the service to Democratic candidates throughout the state.
The state party requires those using the bulk mailing rate to give it a contribution in the amount of the mailing and printing costs, and then the party pays for the mailings.
Philip C. Richter, the elections commission's executive director, said he received a copy of Lyden's complaint Thursday but has not had a chance to review it.
He will refer the matter to the elections commission, which will determine if the complaint has merit.
The election of the Mahoning County Democratic chair is Tuesday. Antonini and Mark Belinky, whom Lyden supports, are running for the post.
skolnick@vindy.com