Area legislative delegation has found winning formula

Five months ago, state officials were projecting a $750 million general fund deficit for the next biennium that begins July 1. Today, there are legislators, including members of the majority Republican Party, talking about a $4 billion shortfall.
And while Gov. Bob Taft insists that such projections are not reliable because they aren't based on hard numbers, the fact remains that Ohio will continue to face tough economic times.
The question of how well the state weathers the storm depends, in large part, on the General Assembly. Republicans, who are expected to maintain control of the House and Senate, should have realized by now that ignoring the Democratic minority isn't good politics and certainly isn't good public policy.
Thus, we believe that bipartisanship will become more than just a good soundbite word, thereby requiring experienced and knowledgeable legislators to tackle the budget.
Voters in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties should keep that in mind when they go to the polls next month to decide on various state legislative races.
The Vindicator has evaluated the candidates for the 59th, 60th and 61st House districts in Mahoning County and the 1st in Columbiana County, and we have concluded that the incumbents deserve to be re-elected.
We previously announced our endorsements in the 33rd state Senate race and the 65th House District contest.
In reviewing the questionnaires submitted by the candidates, and in their discussions on issues such as funding for primary and secondary and higher education with editors and writers of the newspaper, the question that was foremost in our minds was this: Who can best articulate the needs of the Mahoning Valley and work closely with other legislators from the area regardless of party affiliation?
Incumbents
It is our belief that Reps. Ken Carano of Austintown, D-59th, Sylvester Patton of Youngstown, D-60th, John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, and Charles Blasdel of East Liverpool, R-1st, are in the strongest position to take advantage of the bipartisanship that we anticipate in the forthcoming session of the General Assembly.
That's because Carano, Patton, Boccieri and Blasdel have worked closely in the past two years and have presented a united front in Columbus on matters that affect the region.
The effort to secure the future of General Motors Corp.'s Lordstown assembly plant is a case in point. The legislators stood shoulder-to-shoulder and worked with the Taft administration in providing GM with a significant economic incentive package. The state's participation was a major factor in the giant automaker's decision to produce the new generation of its compact cars at Lordstown.
In next month's election, Carano is being challenged by Republican Paul Alberty, who ran two years ago for the 17th District congressional seat held by James A. Traficant Jr.
Alberty was unsuccessful, even though Traficant had publicly acknowledged that he was the target of a federal investigation of his eight-year tenure in the House and that he expected to be indicted.
The Republican was unpersuasive in his contention that the congressional district would be well served with him in Washington, and he is unpersuasive now as he tries to unseat Carano.
Patton, a member of the State Controlling Board, is being challenged by Republican William Sicafuse, who has never held public office but does have a good grasp of the issues. We would encourage him to stay involved in politics.
Patton has formed strong alliances with both Republicans and Democratic leaders, which is important to this area.
Boccieri has emerged as one of the more thoughtful and knowledgeable legislators and has spent a great deal of his time analyzing the state budget and developing possible solutions to Ohio's myriad problems.
He is being challenged by Republican Randy Pope, who failed to sell us on the idea that his being a Republican would necessarily translate into help for the district.
Important cog
On the other hand, Blasdel is a Republican who has attracted the attention of House Speaker Larry Householder. By virtue of the alliances he has formed with the GOP leadership, Blasdel has emerged as an important cog in the Valley's legislative wheel.
Given the way the General Assembly works, it is vital that Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties have someone like Blasdel to lead the charge for economic development and job creation initiatives.
We have long believed that our future depends on how well we perform as one region, both locally and in Columbus.
Given the fact that Ohio still faces some rough economic sailing, it is essential that the tri-county area work together to secure money for development projects and social programs.
We believe that Carano, Patton, Boccieri and Blasdel have come up with the right formula for keeping the Mahoning Valley on the state's radar screen.