VALLEY CORRUPTION Poll finds similar views of counties

The unofficial poll gives the public a chance to vote anonymously.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
and AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Many people responding to a recent Vindicator Web site poll think an FBI investigation in Trumbull County will show there's the same amount of corruption as in Mahoning County.
This question was: "What will be the findings of the FBI's investigation of public corruption in Trumbull County?"
Of the 466 people who responded to last weekend's unscientific poll, 198 -- or 42.5 percent -- said they think it's the same.
About 27 percent said the Trumbull County probe will turn up more corruption than what was found in Mahoning County; another 30 percent predicted less.
The FBI in the past two years has been looking at documents in Warren and Trumbull County offices, including those related to Avalon South golf course, some building demolitions and area contractors.
The Web site offers a poll question daily. All responses are anonymous.
Opinions: "Warren and Trumbull County corruption should not be underestimated," one person wrote. "Corruption in Warren has existed for generations within politically powerful and wealthy families, public officials, lawyers and businessmen."
Another respondent expects indictments to cover current and former city and county officials for shady dealings with contractors "who submit low-ball bids and make a fortune by charging or suing for so-called extra work."
James Matash, owner of the former M & amp;M Demolition Inc. of Vienna, which handled many city jobs, has already been sentenced in federal court for agreeing to pay $5,000 to James Lapmardo, a former Warren building official, in exchange for the contract to demolish the Regency Hotel.
The FBI says more indictments are on the way.
Response: Councilman Alford Novak, D-2nd, chairman of council's engineering, building and planning committee, said he thinks the FBI probe will turn up more wrongdoing involving city contracts. In that case, guilty parties should be made to pay the consequences, Novak added.
Sheriff Thomas Altiere doesn't think there's much corruption in the county.
"If they find anything at all, I doubt it will be anything like Mahoning County," he said. "I just don't think they are going to find anything."
Judge Thomas Gysegem of Warren Municipal Court said the judicial code prohibits him from making a specific comment on the issue. But he added, "I have the highest confidence in every judge I have dealt with in this county."
Leader: Some who responded to the poll feel Mahoning County leads the area in corruption.
"It's hard to imagine there being a more corrupt place than Mahoning County, except for Washington, D.C.," one person wrote.
"I would hope the investigation would show less corruption than Mahoning County," said Trumbull County Commissioner Michael J. O'Brien. "You would have to have your head in the sand not to know the investigations are taking place because rumors have been circulating throughout this county for more than a year."
Someone else thinks that whatever the FBI finds, it should be kept away from the national news media.
"The Mahoning Valley already has a horrendous black eye from all the bad publicity we have already had," the person wrote.
Another person said Mahoning County makes Northeast Ohio look bad, especially because of allegations being addressed in the federal corruption trial of U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, D-17th.
"But let's face the facts; he could run for re-election from a jail cell, which is hopefully what he will call home for a long time, and the Youngstown faithful would provide a landslide victory for him," the person said.
An anonymous posting from March 8 said simply, "I have decided to stop voting."
Some others said weeding out the corruption might be a short-term solution, but that corruption is everywhere, all the time.
Another person said that to call all politicians corrupt is irresponsible, and "Folks, YOUR politicians are only a reflection of the people they represent."
"We must be strong and insist that all those tainted by corruption leave for good," yet another person said. "The time has come for the good citizens to take their government back. The tide is turning in our favor."
sinkovich@vindy.com,davis@vindy.com