17TH DISTRICT Sawyer, Ryan still plan to meet

The meeting will wait until after the Democratic nominee files his campaign financial disclosure report.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Timothy J. Ryan, the Democratic nominee for the 17th Congressional District, and U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer, the pre-primary favorite who lost to Ryan in a political upset, will get together sometime in the next two weeks to discuss what assistance the outgoing incumbent can offer.
Ryan, a state senator from Niles, has been interested in meeting with Sawyer, of Akron, since last month's primary, hoping the congressman could help him improve his name recognition and fund-raising capabilities in Summit County. Sawyer has represented Summit County for 26 years as Akron mayor, a state legislator and congressman.
But Sawyer has put off meeting with Ryan to the point that the Democratic nominee said Monday that if the congressman didn't want to meet with him, he would not lose any sleep over it. Ryan also shrugged his shoulders when asked if he was disappointed or frustrated with Sawyer's reluctance to meet.
"If it works out, it works out," Ryan said. "We've got a lot of work to do with labor unions and other endorsements."
Pat Lowry, Ryan's spokesman, said Monday that Dan Lucas, Sawyer's chief of staff, had not returned his telephone calls and he had given up trying to contact him three weeks ago.
Awaiting FEC filing
On Tuesday, The Vindicator contacted Lucas, who said Sawyer is still willing to meet with Ryan. But first, Ryan has to file his quarterly financial disclosure report and clear up issues pertaining to a questionable $50,000 loan to his campaign, Lucas said. That report is not due to the Federal Election Commission until July 15, but Lucas said he has been told Ryan's report will be filed earlier.
"Tom said on election night that he had problems with the financial issue," Lucas said. "But that should be cleared up and we'll be right on track. Tim and Tom want to do this and we're going to put this together. Tom's been here a long time. We told him we want to do it, but it has to be done correctly."
Lucas said he understands Ryan's "frustration" in not meeting yet with Sawyer, but "everyone's waited this long. We can wait a few more days."
When told Tuesday of Sawyer's interest in meeting, Lowry's mood about the get-together changed. He said Ryan is "absolutely interested in meeting" with the outgoing congressman.
Election victory
Ryan defeated Sawyer and four other candidates last month in the Democratic primary. Ryan beat Sawyer by more than 9,500 votes, based on overwhelmingly strong victories in Mahoning and Trumbull counties and low voter turnout in Portage and Summit counties, Sawyer's bases of support. Ryan fared poorly in Portage and Summit, losing to the congressman in those two counties by a 4-1 margin.
Ryan, considered the favorite to win the November general election, will face Republican Ann Womer Benjamin, a state representative from Aurora, and two independents, U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland and Warren Davis, a former labor leader from Bay Village.
"Ryan needs the assistance from everybody who can help him," said William Binning, chairman of the Youngstown State University political science department. "Sawyer has some following and some contacts. It's better that he has [Sawyer's support] than if he doesn't, but it's certainly not critical to Ryan's campaign success."
skolnick@vindy.com