Hagan defeats mayoral pack

A former council president won the Democratic primary for the post.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- With so many candidates in the Democratic mayoral primary, state Sen. Robert F. Hagan said he had a tough time getting his message out to voters.
Apparently, he and his campaign did a good enough job as he defeated the six other Democrats in Tuesday's Youngstown mayoral primary, according to unofficial results from the Mahoning County Board of Elections.
"It was a really difficult campaign because it was hard to articulate my position with so many people in the race," Hagan said. "The results show we have a divided city. I'll work to bring the people of Youngstown together."
Hagan raised and spent more money from Jan. 1 to April 13, according to the latest campaign finance reports, than the six other Democrats in the race combined. Post-primary reports showing financial activity between April 14 and June 3 must be filed by June 10.
Hagan's campaign paid $40,000 for production costs, and TV and radio ad purchases, and $5,000 on postcards and letters mailed to Youngstown residents as of April 13.
Hagan said he anticipates a tough campaign in the fall when he faces Republican Robert Korchnak, and four independents, including Jay Williams, the former director of the city Community Development Agency.
Council presidency
Also Tuesday, Water Commissioner Charles P. Sammarone, a former council president, won the Democratic primary for that position, beating two other candidates.
Municipal Court Judge Robert P. Milich survived a challenge from Cherie H. Howard in the Democratic primary, beating her 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent.
If Hagan is elected in November, he would resign his state Senate seat with one year left on his term. It would be up to the other Democratic state senators to pick his replacement. Mahoning County Recorder Ronald Gerberry, a former Ohio House member, and state Rep. John Boccieri are two Democrats who've expressed interest in the job.
Hagan picked up 31.7 percent of the vote in Tuesday's election. A poll conducted in late April by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Ohio Council 8 on behalf of Hagan had the state senator capturing 32 percent of the vote with 36 percent undecided.
While the poll number practically mirrored Hagan's percentage Tuesday, it had state Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. finishing in second place with 10 percent. The outgoing state House member received 13.9 percent of the vote, good enough for only fourth place.
Hagan's challengers
Hagan's strongest challenge came from Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr., who received 25.6 percent of the vote Tuesday even though his campaign was $2,000 in the red as of April 13.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed, but I congratulate Bob on a well-run campaign," Bush said. "It was a long campaign."
Bush said he will remain police chief through the end of Mayor George M. McKelvey's term. McKelvey couldn't run this year for re-election because of the city's term limits law. After that, Bush, who is an attorney, said he doesn't know what he will do.
Hagan said it is premature to talk about who he would appoint as police chief.
Swierz, a former Youngstown council president, finished a third with 13.9 percent of the vote.
"Everyone in the race understood the challenge we faced because Bob [Hagan] has name recognition and money," Swierz said. "Those were factors in the race. He got his message out. I wish him well."
Swierz lost the 2003 Democratic primary for council president in a close race to James E. Fortune Sr. Fortune was in Tuesday's mayoral primary and finished fifth with 8.7 percent of the vote.
Although Sammarone raised and spent more money than his two Democratic primary opponents combined for council president -- Councilman Mark S. Memmer of the 7th Ward and M. Mike McNair -- the water commissioner said he was surprised he won. Sammarone received 47.1 percent of the vote compared with 39.4 percent for McNair and 13.5 percent for Memmer.
"I thought it would be tough, and I didn't think I would win," he said.
Sammarone will face Councilman Richard Atkinson, R-3rd, in the November general election. The two are friends going back to high school.
skolnick@vindy.com