Blasdel takes No. 2 GOP post

It's been 180 years since a Columbiana County legislator got such a high post.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
The Ohio House Republican Caucus agreed to choose state Rep. Charles Blasdel for the No. 2 position in the legislative chamber, effective January.
The caucus met Tuesday in Columbus to support incoming House Speaker Jon Husted's slate of candidates for leadership for the 2005 legislative session.
Husted, of Kettering, R-37th, said Blasdel, 33, of East Liverpool, R-1st, has demonstrated leadership, and will work side by side with him to push legislation through the House to improve the state's economy.
Blasdel will serve as House speaker pro tem. He will fill in for Husted in Husted's absence and help manage the GOP caucus.
Blasdel would be the first House member from the Mahoning Valley to rise to such a high position in more than 50 years, and the first from Columbiana County in 180 years.
Blasdel said the appointment will prove to be beneficial to the Mahoning Valley because someone from the area will be looking out for its best interests when important decisions are made by leadership. Blasdel's Valley Democratic colleagues in the Ohio House agree with his assessment.
Boccieri's position
State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, said he is interested in returning to Democratic House leadership.
Boccieri served in 2003 as the House assistant minority whip, the party's No. 4 leadership position. He wants to return to that position for next year's session.
Boccieri resigned in January of this year because he was called to active military duty. A major and pilot in the Air Force Reserve, he said he needs to find out if his military duties will force him to miss too much time in the House.
Boccieri expects the uncertainty to be resolved by the end of this week. House Democrats will select their new leadership team Tuesday.
Boccieri had initially expressed interest in running for either minority whip, the No. 3 position for a House Democrat, or assistant minority whip.
Minority whip
There will be a fight for the minority whip spot between state Rep. Lance T. Mason of Shaker Heights, D-8th, who succeeded Boccieri in the No. 4 spot, and state Rep. Steve Driehaus of Cincinnati, D-31st.
Boccieri, who defeated Mason for the assistant minority whip spot in 2003, said he's opted to avoid a fight and accept his old post.
If Boccieri opts not to run for the position, state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, D-65th, is interested.
Another Valley legislator is poised to join his party's leadership.
State Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-33rd, is expected to be chosen today as the Senate's assistant minority whip, effective January. As it is in the House, the assistant minority whip is the No. 4 leadership position for Senate Democrats.
skolnick@vindy.com