County court candidates are fighting the past

By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Thomas Moyer, chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, said he wanted to help heal wounds when he swore in the judges of the four Mahoning County courts in 2000.
At the time, the community was still reeling from the resignation of two county court judges who were found guilty of taking bribes.
Two years later, however, the wounds have yet to heal.
Michael Dockry, Loren Popio and Diane Vettori each said they've been asked if they're honest while they've been campaigning for county court judge this year. The three are seeking the unexpired term of Theresa Dellick, who left the county courts last year when she was appointed to serve as county juvenile court judge.
Popio was appointed as interim county court judge after Judge Dellick left. The term expires Jan. 2, 2007.
Proclaim innocence
Each of the three candidates said they aren't corrupt.
"I've been honest since the day I started," said Vettori, an attorney who lives in Boardman. Dockry, who is an attorney and the Austintown Township administrator, added that he believes he has a reputation of honesty.
"I don't know how you tell people you're honest, other than your reputation," he said.
Popio stressed that he thinks the courts are no longer corrupt.
"I really think it's all been cleaned up," he said.
Popio, 48, said that if he's elected, he would work to expand his "Peace At Home" program. The program is designed to educate people about domestic abuse.
"I don't see why Mahoning County can't be a leader in this issue," Popio said.
Vettori, 34, said she should be elected because she understands sentencing guidelines and the rules of evidence. She said she didn't think Popio understood the sentencing guidelines when he was first appointed judge.
Efficiency issue
Vettori also said she'd work to make the courts more efficient.
Dockry, 46, said he wants to work toward having the county court judges serve full-time instead of part-time to make the courts more efficient. He added that he wants to rid the courts of the appearance of impropriety, "no matter how much it costs."
hill@vindy.com