DUTY CALLS: State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown has asked House Democratic leadership to

DUTY CALLS: State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown has asked House Democratic leadership to appoint a House member from the Mahoning Valley to succeed him when he steps down as assistant House minority whip. Boccieri, D-61st, has been called to active military duty, and could be sent overseas, for up to a year, in a few weeks or months. Boccieri's assignment hasn't been finalized, but most 910th Airlift Wing reservists, of which he is one, are being sent to Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic used as a transit point to provide aid to Afghanistan. Boccieri had hoped Ohio Republicans wouldn't field a candidate against him as a courtesy and based on past state House history. But Randy Pope of Alliance, a Republican who lost to Boccieri last year, plans to run, and Republican Jonathan Swift, a Marlington school board member, has taken out petitions.
Party faithful: Former Mahoning Democratic Party Chairman Michael Morley and ex-county Commissioner David Engler agreed to forgive loans, at the request of Chairwoman Lisa Antonini, that they gave to the party nearly a decade ago. Brief letters stating the two forgive the loans -- $13,700 from Morley and $5,900 from Engler -- were included in the party's recent campaign finance report.
skolnick@vindy.com