Belinky to run for Mahoning County commissioner

By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The head of a local political organization is running for Mahoning County commissioner.
Mark Belinky, president of the Democrats of the 17th and 6th Districts, said today he plans to seek the commission seat being vacated by Ed Reese in the March 2 primary.
"I'm running because there's a lack of leadership in the county, and I'm uniquely qualified to be a county commissioner," said Belinky, an attorney who specializes in corporate real estate and probate. "I present a very formidable candidacy."
Belinky, of Boardman, 51, is the third person to announce his candidacy for county commissioner. Tim Batton, who ran for the Ohio House in 2000, and Anthony Traficanti, regional director for former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., are also running. Several others are considering runs for commissioner.
There are two commission seats available next year -- the one held by Reese and the other held by Vicki Allen Sherlock, who has not announced whether she will run for re-election.
Jan. 2 is the filing deadline for the March primary.
This would be Belinky's second countywide election. He finished in second place in the 2000 county recorder's race.
A Democratic precinct committee member, Belinky has twice unsuccessfully run for the party's chairmanship, in 1998 and 2002.