MAHONING COUNTY Filing shows Patton gave to 5 candidates

The council president primary winner was outspent by his opponent.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- State Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr., who is planning to run for Youngstown mayor in 2005, contributed money to the campaigns of five city council candidates in last month's Democratic primary.
But Patton says his interest in running for mayor and the contributions aren't connected.
"These have been my friends for a long time, even before I got into politics," Patton said. "It's only natural that I support fellow Democrats and my friends."
Patton gave $1,100 to James E. Fortune Sr., who won the primary by 25 votes over incumbent council President John R. Swierz.
Patton said he also gave money to Swierz, who failed to file a post-primary campaign finance report with the Mahoning County Board of Elections by the 4 p.m. Friday deadline.
"Whoever wins the primary is who I'll get behind," Patton said, explaining why he gave to both candidates.
Patton gave $100 to Rufus G. Hudson, D-2nd, who had no primary opposition; $50 to Clarence N. Boles, who won the primary for the open 6th Ward seat; and $40 to Cynthia L. McWilson, who unsuccessfully challenged Michael R. Rapovy, D-5th.
Patton has given money to Rapovy's campaign in the past.
Squire's contributions
Also handing out money was Percy Squire, a Columbus attorney who was a Youngstown mayoral candidate in 2001. Squire withdrew as an independent candidate before the election.
Squire gave $1,025 to Fortune, and $285 to Boles.
The $2,125 given to Fortune by Patton and Squire made up about 17 percent of the total money the candidate raised during his primary, $12,585, through June 6.
Fortune spent $11,495 on his primary campaign, including $2,000 to 40 people -- including $40 each to Councilman Rufus G. Hudson, D-2nd and W. Omari Atkinson, a son of Councilman Richard Atkinson, R-3rd -- for poll work. Fortune was the only Mahoning County primary candidate to pay any money to people to work the polls. Swierz didn't file a post-primary report, but he definitely outspent Fortune. Swierz spent $12,618 by April 16, according to his pre-primary report.
Struthers campaigns
In Struthers, Tina Morell, who defeated a 20-year incumbent for the city auditor's position, outspent her opponent. Morell raised $5,176, including $4,000 from Ivan Markulin of Boardman, and spent $5,171. Mary Ellen Jones, the outgoing auditor, raised $120, and contributed $3,099 of her own money. She spent all of that money by mid-April.
Struthers Councilman Terry P. Stocker, D-4th, a 12-year incumbent, spent $659 of his own money on his failed re-election campaign. He raised no money from any contributors. In comparison, challenger Paul J. Garchar Jr., who won by 19 votes, raised and spent $860 in campaign contributions, and spent $74 of his own money.
skolnick@vindy.com