Retired professor puts his money on Traficant

The Pennsylvania man won't say how much he's spent on Traficant.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
VOLANT, Pa. -- Cyril E. Sagan doesn't know Jim Traficant and doesn't live in his congressional district, but that hasn't stopped him from publicly supporting the flamboyant nine-term ex-congressman in his bid for re-election to Ohio's 17th Congressional District seat.
Advertisements stating that Sagan "with respect, not shame" supports Traficant have been popping up in newspapers throughout the area. All are signed "Dr. C.E. Sagan, individual citizen" and a Volant, Pa., address is given.
Why?
Sagan freely acknowledges he's no friend of Traficant, has never heard him speak publicly and has little knowledge of the ex-congressman's woes with the law.
"I just look upon him as a congressman the people voted into office not once, but several times, and that's good enough for me," he said.
The 74-year-old retired chemistry professor can't fully explain his fascination for a man he can't vote for.
Sagan, a lifetime Pennsylvania resident, never really pinpoints why he's helping Traficant.
"The fact that he addressed his problem by himself and defended himself in court was an interesting thing, and I gave him credit for that, win or lose," he said.
Traficant beat criminal charges in the early 1980s as Mahoning County sheriff and went on to Congress. Now he's serving an eight-year federal prison term after being found guilty of bribery, racketeering and tax evasion charges. The House of Representatives expelled him.
Sagan, who spent 33 years teaching chemistry at Slippery Rock University, said about the only thing he has in common with the ex-congressman is that both attended the University of Pittsburgh. Traficant is about 13 years younger.
It was his freshman year at Pittsburgh when his political appetite was whet by Harry S. Truman's beating Thomas A. Dewey in 1948.
"Everybody thought Dewey was going to win. It was kind of a striking thing. The war was just ending. I was shocked," he said.
How he sees it
Even after that time, Sagan never financially supported a candidate, until now. He won't reveal how much he's spent so far.
"People are glad to give money to a party and let whoever those brains are decide how it will be spent. If I'm going to spend my money and it's going to be wasted, I would rather I waste it myself," he said.
The advertisements have caused some stir, and Sagan has gotten negative letters.
Sagan said he got permission from the Traficant campaign before placing the advertisements. He's hoping his contribution will make a difference.
"Here's a person who has been vilified and in a sense degraded and identified as a criminal. And, I guess, as somebody who wears a hairpiece and that kind of stuff, which is not very flattering. It detracts from his real purpose and goals as a legislator. If he were to win, it would mean you can't be pushed around by those who have the political muscle and social muscle," Sagan said.
Sagan said he will continue to place the advertisements until Election Day. Until then he prefers to remain a mystery and refused to have his photograph taken.
"Let people imagine. I don't wear a hairpiece. I'm not a derelict. I just wish people would do things such as this in defense of things they believe in," he said.