MAHONING COUNTY Gov. Taft to pick judge's successor

A city judge is interested in being the Democratic nominee for the seat.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gov. Bob Taft is expected to appoint a replacement for Judge Robert Lisotto no later than mid-August.
Lisotto resigned his spot as a Mahoning County common pleas judge because he has Alzheimer's disease.
Even though Judge Lisotto is a Democrat, Ohio law states the replacement is chosen by the governor, and Taft is a Republican. Therefore, Mahoning County Republican Party leadership will recommend three candidates as replacements for Judge Lisotto. Those interested in applying for the post should call Mahoning Republican headquarters at (330) 629-7006 during the next week to get a judicial appointment questionnaire.
Party's finalists
The party plans to forward the names of the three finalists to the governor in about two weeks, said Mark Munroe, Mahoning GOP vice chairman. The governor's office asked that at least one of the finalists be a female or minority, Munroe said.
Attorneys expressing interest so far, Munroe said, include Ted Roberts and Maureen Sweeney, Republicans who both who lost Mahoning County judicial races, as well as Leonard Hall, who lost the 2000 Democratic primary to county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains. Also, Munroe said Ronald Knickerbocker, who lost a 2000 county court election, may be interested in the appointment.
The person selected by Taft to replace Judge Lisotto would serve on an interim basis until sometime in late November or early December.
Judge Lisotto's term expires Jan. 1, 2009. The person who wins the Nov. 2 general election would fill the remainder of the judge's unexpired term. Judge Lisotto, who officially resigned Thursday, served as a common pleas judge since 1996.
The county Republican and Democratic precinct committee members will each select a party nominee for the seat, and those two will be on the November ballot, said Thomas McCabe, county board of elections deputy director. Also, those wanting to run for the seat as a nonparty candidate need to submit petitions with at least 750 valid signatures to the elections board by July 12, McCabe said.
It takes the board about three to four weeks to certify the November election results, McCabe said. After that process is complete, the winner of the race would be sworn in as the judge.
Deadline debate
There is a difference of opinion as to when the two local political parties must nominate a candidate for the November election.
McCabe and Munroe said they were initially told by Ohio secretary of state officials that the parties have until Aug. 18 to select a candidate. That date was confirmed to The Vindicator by James Lee, a secretary of state spokesman.
But Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini said the state statute on this issues isn't clear, and she believes the deadline for parties to nominate candidates is July 12.
Because of that concern, McCabe said, the election board called the secretary of state's office again, and is seeking an opinion from the county prosecutor to come up with a definitive answer.
"There are two opinions to the statute's interpretation, so there's no harm in holding it early," Antonini said. "It's better to be safe than sorry."
The person selected by Taft would almost definitely be the Republican nominee in November, allowing that person the advantage of being an incumbent, including the use of the word retain on his election materials, Munroe said.
Mahoning Republicans haven't chosen a day to select their nominee for the November election, but plan to do it after Taft makes his appointment, Munroe said.
Democratic precinct committee members meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Maronite Center on South Meridian Road, and will select their nominee to replace Judge Lisotto, Antonini said.
Interested Democrat
Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court, who has served in that capacity for four years, is the only person to express interest in being the Democratic candidate to replace Judge Lisotto, Antonini said. Anyone else interested in seeking the party's nomination should call Democratic headquarters at (330) 744-2280 no later than Sunday.
skolnick@vindy.com