MAHONING COUNTY In commissioner race, Moffie seeks campaign spending cap

YOUNGSTOWN -- A Republican candidate for Mahoning County commissioner wants his yet-to-be-determined Democratic opponent to agree to a campaign spending cap in the fall election.
Samuel Moffie of Boardman is unopposed in Tuesday's primary. In November, he will face the winner of the primary race between Democratic candidates David Ditzler, Anthony Traficanti and William Flickinger.
"I'm proposing a [spending] cap of what the job pays in one year," Moffie said. "It's the only way to show the good people of Mahoning County that they own the seat, not the special interests."
The commissioners' job pays $68,052 per year.
Ditzler said he would agree to the spending limit if he wins the Democratic nomination. Neither Traficanti nor Flickinger could be reached to comment.
Moffie said Ditzler and Traficanti have spent $50,000 and $100,000, respectively, so far during their primary campaign.
Moffie said he raised and spent $45,000 during his unsuccessful campaign for commissioner in 2000. He said that was against three other candidates in a general election, and during a nine-month campaign. Ditzler and Traficanti, he said, have spent most of their money in two months.
He challenged the winner of the Democratic nomination to agree to a spending cap in the general election.