17TH DISTRICT Sawyer is fined for late report

The former congressman wants to run for a statewide office.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Federal Election Commission issued a $1,550 fine against the campaign of former U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer for filing a campaign finance report late.
Sawyer, of Akron, a former eight-term congressman who lost last year's Democratic primary for the 17th Congressional District, said he didn't know how he was going to pay the fine. He submitted his October 2002 report about a month late.
But Sawyer recently filed a statement of candidacy form with the FEC that would permit him to raise money. He had terminated his congressional committee in February.
"We did it to [help] conclude problems," Sawyer said in reference to the FEC form.
Run for state office
Sawyer says he has no plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, who beat him in last year's Democratic primary. He is eyeing a run for statewide office in 2006, though he hasn't decided what post he will seek.
In downplaying the federal fine, Sawyer took a shot at Ryan, with whom he's had a somewhat icy relationship.
"It's not nearly as bad as Tim's $50,000 unsecured loan," Sawyer said. "He didn't mean to do it ... and I didn't mean to do this."
Sawyer was making a reference to a questionable $50,000 loan to Ryan's campaign that was co-signed by his former high school basketball coach. After questions were raised about the legality of the loan and a complaint sent to the FEC, the loan was paid in full by Ryan's campaign committee. The FEC took no action against Ryan for the loan.
After last year's primary, Sawyer told Ryan he would introduce him to politicians and contributors in the Akron area, but took several months before doing that as well as publicly endorsing Ryan. Even so, Ryan contributed $1,000 to Sawyer in December 2002 to help the former congressman retire his political debt.
Future at school
Also, Sawyer said his future as a distinguished scholar in residence at Hiram College is uncertain.
He was hired by the school in January to teach political and public policy classes and to advise students.
Sawyer said Friday that he wants to return to the college for the fall semester, which starts next month, but he has not yet been offered a contract.
If he doesn't return to Hiram, Sawyer said he doesn't know what his next job would be. But he is certain he won't be a lobbyist.
"It's the best way to earn money and the quickest way to run yourself out of politics," he said. "You take on the sins of your clients. I can be a good lobbyist, but I won't do it because I have said all along that I don't want to preclude running for office again."
Also fined by the FEC for filing a late campaign finance report was Stevan Drobac of Monaca, Pa., the failed Democratic candidate in the 2002 race for Pennsylvania's 4th Congressional District.
Drobac lost to U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, a Bradford Woods, Pa., Republican. The FEC fined Drobac $950 for filing his October campaign finance report late.
skolnick@vindy.com