Newcomer gives incumbent Tsagaris a run for his money

Tsagaris was surprised at his slim margin of victory.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- With a war chest of only $300 and no home telephone, unemployed city resident David C. Cook came within about 2,200 votes of winning the Democratic nomination for Trumbull County commissioner from incumbent James G. Tsagaris.
"Not bad for a newcomer -- and unknown newcomer," said Cook, who spent election day evening in his Iddings Avenue home.
Tsagaris agreed.
"It is unbelievable," he said. "Cook is a good name in Trumbull County, I guess."
Unofficial election night results showed Tsagaris with 54 percent of the vote and Cook with 46 percent.
"I have to go over what happened," Tsagaris said. "It was awful close."
Campaign on the cheap
Cook said lawn signs, at $2.49 a piece, were too expensive for his campaign. He went door to door and to many luncheons and dinners to woo voters with his vision of a NASCAR racetrack, amusement park and vibrant passenger airport for Trumbull County.
Political advertisements were limited to the Buckeye Review, because the daily newspapers in Trumbull County were too expensive, he said.
Cook said he also received many votes from people who were unhappy with the job Tsagaris did in his first term.
"I know 30 Greeks who said that they and their whole families were voting for me, and that is his people," Cook said. "What does that tell you?"
This was Cook's first time on the ballot. He previously tried to run for Warren school board and city council, but the petitions were rejected by the county board of elections.
He will run for county commissioner again, he said.
siff@vindy.com