Vindicator file photo

Vindicator file photo
BEGINNING OF AN ERA: Twenty-five years ago, Democrat James A. Traficant Jr. was surrounded by supporters and celebrating his first general election victory. Traficant easily defeated Republican Terrence Shidel, 70,762 to 46,038, in the race for Mahoning County sheriff. Traficant was subsequently indicted for accepting campaign contributions from mobsters during the race. After winning acquittal on those charges, he was elected congressman from the 17th District in 1984. He was removed from Congress in 2002 after being convicted of bribery and is now in federal prison.