DAVID SKOLNICK | Politics Will McKelvey's Bush support help Valley?

Youngstown Mayor George M. McKelvey wasn't the only well-known Mahoning Valley Democratic politician approached by the Bush campaign seeking an endorsement for the Republican president.
Liberty Township Administrator Patrick Ungaro, whom McKelvey succeeded as Youngstown mayor, said he was approached by the Bush campaign asking for his endorsement. He said no.
"I'm trying to not be so controversial anymore," he said.
Ungaro drew the wrath of Valley Democrats in 1990 when he met with George V. Voinovich, who was the Republican nominee for governor, and the race's winner. Even though Ungaro didn't endorse in the race, many local Democrats saw the move as a slap in the face and considered it an endorsement.
Ungaro took a chance but he said it paid off. Ungaro says when Voinovich won the race, he helped steer money to the city for the government building on Federal Plaza, named for Voinovich, as well as for the Salt Springs Road industrial park, the Hubbard Expressway and other projects.
Ungaro wouldn't criticize Mc-Kelvey for his decision to endorse Bush but doubts it will have much impact on Valley voters or the area.
"A president can really help, but he's inundated with issues all over the world," he said. "It's easier to get help for Youngstown with a governor."
Ungaro says he's not one of the Mahoning Valley Democrats' favorites. But he probably is adored compared with McKelvey -- and the dislike of McKelvey only intensified this week when he proudly crossed party lines to support Bush.
Since The Vindicator first broke the story Monday that McKelvey was going to endorse Bush, the reaction from local Democratic and labor officials has been relentless, even though the decision didn't shock anyone.
McKelvey fully expected to be lambasted by local Dems, and that's exactly what happened.
A Thursday press conference with local Democratic leaders was designed specifically to criticize and degrade McKelvey. Mahoning Democratic leaders held the media event in front of an abandoned house on Bruce Street after a search to find one of the worst streets in Youngstown as a backdrop to make their point.
Jim Graham, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1112 at the Lordstown General Motors plant, blasted McKelvey at Wednesday's rally in Warren for U.S. Sen. John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential candidate. Graham referred to the Youngstown mayor only as "George," and asked the crowd, "Tell me what you think of him?" Apparently the sun and heat got to a decent percentage of the crowd because several of them cheered when Graham was looking for boos.
Meanwhile, McKelvey is being treated as royalty by the Bush campaign. He's been booked on several national TV shows, and is being flown to the Republican National Convention to conduct more media interviews, presumably with "Bush-friendly" reporters.
Will McKelvey's endorsement mean anything in the Valley? It's impossible to give a definitive answer. But if the Republicans handle the McKelvey endorsement correctly, it could help in other swing states, where the voters aren't familiar with the mayor's conservative tendencies and longtime mutual dislike between him and the local Democratic Party establishment.
I would think a national TV commercial with McKelvey reading from a script about the improvements made in Youngstown, one of Ohio's most Democratic cities, under the Bush administration could help outside the state.
So what does McKelvey get out of his endorsement if Bush is re-elected?
McKelvey said he gets to be the president's "go-to guy" in the Valley.
But there are other things at play here.
A prominent state Republican said there have been discussions among GOP leaders about finding a government job for McKelvey in either Washington, D.C., or Columbus, if he's interested. The mayor cannot run for re-election when his term expires at the end of next year.
The official also said it is highly doubtful Republicans would support McKelvey if he chose to run in 2006 for the 6th Congressional District, a longtime rumor, because they want state Rep. Charles Blasdel of East Liverpool, R-1st, to seek that position.