Sherlock chooses not to run again

Before the announcement, Sherlock hadn't stated her political intentions.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Vicki Allen Sherlock, the first female commissioner in Mahoning County and a lightning rod of controversy at times, will not seek re-election.
Sherlock released a one-sentence statement Wednesday through the commissioners office stating she would not run for re-election. She couldn't be reached to comment.
Sherlock's decision on whether to run for another term was the subject of much speculation during the past few months.
Some believed she would seek another term, possibly even for the other county commissioner seat available in the March 2 primary, while others were convinced that she wouldn't run again.
During that time, Sherlock declined to state her political intentions. That is, until Wednesday's announcement. Friday is the deadline to file to run in the primary.
"She never let on as to what she would do, but some of her statements led me to not be surprised by her announcement," said Commissioner Ed Reese, who announced in October that he wasn't going to run for re-election in 2004.
Sherlock's current term expires Jan. 1, 2005.
History as commissioner
Sherlock was appointed by Mahoning Democratic precinct committee members in April 1999 as commissioner to replace Frank A. Lordi, whose theft-in-office conviction forced him to resign in March of that year. Sherlock received 52 percent of the 340 votes, defeating second-place finisher Debbie Taylor, who would become a frequent critic of the commissioner, by more than 100 votes.
Sherlock, a radio talk-show host at the time, was endorsed for the appointment by then-Mahoning Democratic Chairman Michael Morley and other top party leadership. When appointed, Sherlock said she hoped her presence on the board of commissioners could "help find common ground" on county finances and other issues.
Sherlock ran for a full four-year term as commissioner in November 2000, defeating Republican Sam Moffie and two independents in the general election. Moffie has filed to run in the March 2 primary for the seat that is held by Sherlock.
Alliance formed, broken
Sherlock formed an alliance with Reese, who filled another commissioner vacancy a few months after she was appointed, and enjoyed a voting bloc over Commissioner David Ludt. But cracks in the alliance between Sherlock and Reese began to show when the two clashed in June 2001 over the suspension of Thomas Smith, then the clerk of the board.
The relationship was never the same. Reese later formed an alliance with Ludt.
When asked for a comment Wednesday about how Sherlock is as a commissioner, Reese said, "I've got another year left. I'll reserve comment till the end of the year."
A few months after the clash over Smith's suspension, Sherlock received much criticism because she used a county credit card on a trip with her children and boyfriend. She said the criticism came from her political enemies.
A special state audit determined she used the credit cards to take unauthorized trips contrary to the county's travel policy. She was issued a finding for recovery for $242 for a trip to Cincinnati; she paid the money before the audit was released.
Sherlock also began to miss meetings in November 2001, the time of the credit-card controversy, saying the absences were because of a medical problem that she declined to reveal.
Vocal over issues
In 2003, Sherlock was vocal about two county issues: fighting Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick's efforts to increase her budget; and cutting funding for the county's visitors and convention bureau and reallocating the county bed tax toward funding the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. She also spoke out against the Democrats of the 17th and 6th Districts, a local political organization that called for her resignation.
"I think Vicki did an outstanding job," said Lisa Antonini, Mahoning Democratic chairwoman. "I think she'll be missed. Ultimately, it's a very, very difficult job, and politics plays a part in that. The naysayers in the community worked to beat her up. Vicki could have cured cancer and her political opponents wouldn't have recognized that as a good thing."
Antonini said Sherlock's accomplishments include helping with development at the airport and downtown Youngstown, increasing the amount of grants obtained by the county, and getting the county's sales tax passed.
Antonini said Sherlock told her that she wasn't going to run for re-election because of the constant criticism she's received.
"It was time to move on," Antonini said. "It's very difficult to be commissioner in this county with every decision you make criticized. She's sort of tired of the politics and the daily bashing you take as a county commissioner. It wears on you. It wears you down."
Newcomers to enter
This means that come 2005, two of the three county commissioners will be new to the office.
"It will allow two new people to move the county forward," Antonini said. "There will be some different ideas."
Moffie, who was hoping for a rematch with Sherlock, said he was surprised by her announcement.
"The rebel forces have defeated two sitting commissioners without even an election," he said.
Democrat Tim Batton, who already filed for Sherlock's seat, said her decision has no impact on his candidacy.
"My campaign was never going to be about Vicki anyhow," he said.
Paul Sracic, a Youngstown State University political science professor who ran against Reese as a Republican in 2000, said Sherlock probably stood a good chance of winning if she ran for re-election.
"She would have been the odds-on favorite," he said. "She wouldn't have been a sure thing, but the incumbent is always the favorite."
skolnick@vindy.com