TRUMBULL COUNTY Endorsed, Latell puts out offer to other candidates

The two other candidates have no plans to pull out of the race.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
WARREN -- After obtaining the Trumbull County Democratic Party's endorsement for the 17th Congressional District seat, state Rep. Anthony A. Latell invited the candidates who did not receive the group's support to quit the race and join his team.
Party Chairman Nicholas Melfi, a Latell backer, echoed the congressional candidate's statements, but the requests fell on deaf ears.
State Sen. Timothy J. Ryan of Niles and Maridee Costanzo, a Warren attorney, have no plans to bow out.
Latell, of Girard, easily won majority support of the precinct committee members at Thursday's endorsement meeting.
Breakdown of vote: Of the 284 precinct committee members, 165 voted. Latell took 97, Ryan won 55 and Constanzo garnered 11 votes. There were two abstentions.
"These are all his old friends," Ryan said of Latell, dismissing the outcome. "He's been in politics with these people for 30 years. This is his block of votes. Ninety-something people don't determine an election."
Costanzo was thrilled with 11 votes.
"I'm pleasantly surprised because I didn't think I'd hardly get any," she said. "If anything, I rejoice in it."
Latell, the favorite going in, was so confident of his victory that his campaign workers distributed press releases about his endorsement only moments after it was announced.
"This is the kickoff to a victory," Latell said. "We'll win the primary in May and meet the challenges in November."
Letter from Sawyer: Four other Democrats in the race did not seek the Trumbull party's endorsement, but U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer of Akron, an eight-term incumbent, had a letter hand-delivered by Leo Jennings -- a political consultant he hired this week to handle his campaign -- to Melfi saying his congressional schedule would not permit him to attend the endorsement meeting.
"I fully understand the reasoning behind the party's desire to endorse a Trumbull County candidate for the 17th Congressional District seat," he wrote. "I want you to know that I respect the party's decision in this matter."
Dan Lucas, Sawyer's chief of staff, said the congressman would have attended the meeting if he was not in Washington, D.C.
Trumbull makes up 34 percent of the new congressional district's population, the largest, and is the only county in the 17th to endorse for the primary.
The district also includes portions of Mahoning, Portage and Summit counties.
Melfi said that for Latell to have a real shot at Sawyer, the other candidates should drop out.
"Without that, it makes it a tougher battle, but we've still got a good chance," Melfi said.
Also Thursday, the party endorsed Joseph Melfi of Girard, the chairman's brother, over two other candidates running in the new 65th Ohio House District, one of three districts that will represent portions of Trumbull beginning next year.
Melfi received 48 votes, Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles got 20 votes and Barry Profato of Niles got 9 votes.
skolnick@vindy.com