Colleagues will fill in seat for Boccieri

The governor wanted to personally wish him well from all Ohioans.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Staff members in other legislative offices will be freed up to help process constituent concerns in the district represented by state Rep. John A. Boccieri of New Middletown, a leading Democrat says.
House Minority Leader Chris Redfern, D-Catawba Island, also said Thursday he and other Democratic lawmakers plan to make regular visits to their Democratic colleague's district now that the Air Force reservist has been called to active duty in support of the military conflict in Iraq.
"The caucus does have a plan to continue John's message," Redfern said.
"I plan to visit his district many, many times."
Boccieri, 34, said he was notified the day before Thanksgiving that he was being called to active duty for up to a year. He doesn't know where he will be stationed, he said.
Miltary life
A captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Boccieri commands a C-130 and its crew with the 910th Airlift Wing based near Youngstown.
He said he's pleased that constituents of his district, which includes all of Carroll County and portions of Mahoning, Tuscarawas and Stark counties, will be taken care of.
"I will continue to have a staff to respond to the needs of my constituents," said Boccieri, who was joined at a Statehouse news conference by his wife, Stacey, and their two young daughters.
Boccieri said he plans to communicate with constituents through e-mail, the telephone and by regular mail after he reports for military duty today.
He won't resign his House seat and plans to seek re-election next November, despite being called to active duty, he said.
His main goal will be to continue to help bolster the economy of the struggling Mahoning Valley region.
"We have quite an exodus of jobs," Boccieri said.
It was unclear whether Boccieri would have to resign his post as assistant minority whip, the No. 4 Democrat in the House. Democratic leaders said that would be addressed later.
"My main focus is to return to my family safely," Boccieri said. He added that he wouldn't campaign if it hurt his military service.
Message from governor
The office of Republican Gov. Bob Taft was trying Thursday to arrange a time for the governor to speak to Boccieri by phone, Taft spokesman Orest Holubec said.
"The governor wants to wish him well and let him know Ohioans will be thinking of him," Holubec said.
Boccieri, who first joined military service in 1994, defeated Alliance Republican Randal A. Pope in 2002 and was first elected to his House seat in 2000.