YOUNGSTOWN MAYOR'S RACE Primary winner to face 5 opponents in November

Three attorneys are running to replace a retiring judge.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The winner of today's seven-man Democratic primary for Youngstown mayor will meet the Republican nominee and four independent candidates in the Nov. 8 general election.
Independent candidates had until Monday, the day before the partisan primary, to file nominating petitions with their county board of elections.
Those filing Monday were:
UJay Williams, who recently resigned as the city's Community Development Agency director.
UMaggy Lorenzi, a frequent critic of the city administration who's questioned the legality of decisions made by city officials.
UBrendan Gilmartin, the son of former state Rep. Tom Gilmartin.
Also, Joe Louis Teague filed his independent petitions in February as an independent. Teague unsuccessfully ran in the 2002 Democratic primary for the 17th Congressional District seat.
Williams' announcement
Acknowledging it was the worst kept secret in city politics, Williams announced his candidacy early Monday in the atrium of the Commerce Building to a crowd of about 75 supporters that he was running for mayor.
Williams was not permitted to run for mayor while serving in his civil service appointed post as CDA director. He resigned April 22 to prepare his mayoral bid.
"We will be billed as the underdog from the word 'go'" Williams said. "There is no guarantee of success, but we have to give it a try. Failing to win this election is a possibility. Failing to try is an option we won't accept."
Williams said that anything worth having, such as being elected mayor, usually comes with a risk. In this case, it cost Williams his CDA job to run for mayor.
Judge John Almasy of Campbell Municipal Court cannot run for re-election because of the state's age restriction on those serving on the bench. The law doesn't permit anyone 70 years of age or older to run for a judicial seat.
That leaves the seat open during the November general election.
Three candidates filed for the seat: city Law Director Brian J. Macala; Mark J. Kolmacic, whose father, John was a Campbell judge; and Patrick P. Cunning of the Youngstown law firm of Green, Haines and Sgambati.
In Poland, three of the four members of village council filed as independent -- also called nonparty -- candidates by Monday's deadline. Councilman Stephen Degenaro isn't seeking re-election.
Democrats turned independent
In Trumbull County, two people who were kicked off the Democratic primary ballot because of problems with their nominating petitions filed to run as independents.
They are Charles M. Doran, a former Girard 4th Ward councilman running for that seat, and Jackie Hudson, who was disqualified from Warren's 6th Ward council race. She is going to run in November for the spot as an independent.
Warren's 1st Ward council seat continues to get attention from candidates.
Councilwoman Virginia Bufano was the only person to file for the seat for Tuesday's partisan primary.
But the Trumbull County Board of Elections disqualified her because of problems with her petitions. She and two others, including a former 1st Ward councilman, filed to run as write-in candidates during Tuesday's Democratic primary.
Four candidates filed by Monday's deadline to run as independents against the Democratic primary winner of that ward race. Among the independent candidates is Ray Bagaglia, a former 1st Ward councilman.
The field for four Lordstown council seats will be crowded in November. Four men, including two incumbents, are running as Democrats. With four seats and four candidates, there won't be a primary in Lordstown.
But those four will face the challenge of seven candidates who filed by Monday's deadline as independents. Among the seven are Councilman Richard A. Morgan, former Mayor Arno A. Hill and former Police Chief Bill Catlin.
skolnick@vindy.com