Dear Jim:

Dear Jim:
My, where has the time gone? Can you believe it's been more than two years since your conviction on 10 federal counts including racketeering, bribery and tax evasion?
I remember riding down in the elevator with you that day -- April 11, 2002 -- after a jury found you guilty on every count you faced. You joked the entire time heading downstairs even though your life was crumbling in front of you. At least you kept a stiff upper lip as you faced dozens of reporters and photographers.
I guess that whole act-as-your-own-attorney-thing didn't work out as well as you had anticipated, but everyone makes a miscalculation every so often.
Even though you haven't taken any media calls while you spend time in the big house [do you like how quickly I pick up the prison lingo?] I figured you must still get copies of The Vindicator sent to you every now and then from one of your local pals on the outside. Hopefully one of them will send you this column.
You're probably no longer a regular subscriber to the paper. I mean you earn only about 50 cents a day, and you want to use that money wisely. It's probably not too tough to choose between buying a newspaper and a candy bar from the prison commissary. There also are those pesky fines and court costs to pay.
I figured I'd catch you up on what's going on in the world of Mahoning Valley politics since you left.
Before I start, I want you to know that you should look on the bright side when it comes to your move to the federal prison in Ray Brook, N.Y., in the Adirondack Mountains. I used to live a short distance from there, and it's not so bad.
The summers are nice, and so is the changing of seasons except from fall to winter. The winters get quite cold, but I'm sure you're making the best of it. I don't know what kind of view you have of the Adirondacks, but if you get a chance to get out for a bit of fresh air, they can be quite beautiful.
On to the news. I don't know if you heard that Anthony Traficanti, your former regional director, ran for county commissioner in the Democratic primary, and he defeated David Ditzler.
Yes, that David Ditzler. The guy who criticized you as Mahoning Democratic chairman got it handed to him by your former D.C. driving buddy. I guess you can take some glee in that while you pass the time in "the hole."
The downtown Youngstown convocation center is moving along, sort of. Contracts have been signed by city officials, but they didn't listen to the guy who traded his vote for House speaker to get the $26 million in federal money for the facility.
It's going to be smaller than you envisioned, and yes, they're putting it on the land between the bridges. I know, I know, you hate the spot. But I guess they figure, from where you are, you can't do anything to stop them.
This one you're not going to believe: Capri Cafaro, J.J.'s daughter, is running against your ol' chum, U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, in the 14th Congressional District. She spent a small fortune on the Democratic primary, and won. You remember J.J.? He's the guy who admitted he gave you an envelope stuffed with cash for political favors for his company.
There's been quite a shake-up in the local political scene. Mahoning Commissioners Vicki Allen Sherlock and Ed Reese didn't run for re-election. If you had stuck around, you'd have David Ludt and Traficanti, should he win the general election, as county commissioners. You couldn't ask for anything better than that: elected officials who would listen to you.
I'm not sure why you've been quiet for so long, particularly when you were known as someone who loved the sound of his own voice.
It can't be the repossessed hairpiece. Can it? Don't be embarrassed.
There are many great bald men people admire: Yul Brenner, Telly Savalas, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Michael Jordan, Moby, Montel Williams, G. Gordon Liddy and Vin Diesel, just to name a few.
Write back soon. Miss you!
Your friend,
David Skolnick