WARREN Union head risks job in mayoral run

The service director said he'll set a pre-disciplinary hearing for Tuesday.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A mayoral run makes the president of the city's largest union subject to discipline or removal from his city job, an opinion from Law Director Greg Hicks says.
Hicks prepared the opinion at the request of Fred Harris, safety-service director, after Lee E. DeJacimo, president of the city's chapter of the Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees, filed to run as an independent candidate for mayor.
Under Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code, people in classified positions can't participate in partisan political activity, Hicks' opinion says. DeJacimo, an employee of the water department, is in a classified position.
DeJacimo, who said this morning that he hasn't read the opinion, declined to comment.
Harris said a pre-disciplinary hearing will be set for Tuesday, after which he will have seven days to make a decision. He said if DeJacimo doesn't end his candidacy, he could lose his job.
People in classified positions are prohibited from being candidates for a public office in a partisan election, filing petitions meeting statutory requirements for partisan candidacy to elective office and circulating nominating petitions for candidates participating in a partisan election, Hicks wrote.
"The election laws of the state of Ohio tell us that the position of mayor of a statutory city such as Warren is determined by a partisan election," the opinion says.
Here's the ruling
It's the law department's opinion that a classified service employee is participating in partisan political activity by becoming a candidate for office in a partisan election -- even if he's running as an independent, Hicks wrote.
DeJacimo's candidacy makes him subject to removal or discipline in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
DeJacimo is one of three people who filed to run as independent candidates for the mayoral post. Dominic S. Venetti Sr. of Kenmore Avenue S.E. and Joe H. Williams of Chevelle Drive S.E., a former council president who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1999, also are on the November ballot.
Trumbull County Commissioner Michael J. O'Brien won the Democratic nomination for the slot last week, soundly defeating four others including Harris, the city's former water department head and the former treasurer. Randy Law of Clemmens Avenue N.W. is the Republican mayoral candidate.
Mayor Hank Angelo did not seek a third term.
dick@vindy.com