Dems work on plan in case Hagan wins

At least four Mahoning County politicians are interested in the job.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Should state Sen. Robert F. Hagan win today's Youngstown mayoral election, the Ohio Democratic Senate Caucus is working on a plan to replace him in Columbus.
The caucus would ask for two or three recommendations from the Democratic leaders of the four counties in Hagan's 33rd Ohio Senate District.
Mahoning County makes up about 60 percent of the district's population, and its party recommendation would probably hold the most weight, said Hagan, a Youngstown Democrat.
The district also includes the eastern portion of Stark County, a northeast portion of Tuscarawas County and all of Carroll County.
Democrats make up 11 of the state Senate's 33 members. If all goes well for Democrats today, three of its members would resign at the end of the year, Hagan and state Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd, said.
State Sen. Mark Mallory of Cincinnati, D-9th, is running today for mayor of his city. Also, state Sen. Dan Brady of Cleveland, D-23rd, is expected to resign and take a position in the administration of Frank Jackson should the Cleveland City Council president be elected mayor of his city today, Dann and Hagan said.
Would resign
If Hagan were to win, he'd resign from the state Senate at the end of next month with one year left on his term. Senate Minority Leader C.J. Prentiss of Cleveland, D-21st, has asked Hagan to resign as the Senate's assistant minority whip immediately if he wins the mayoral race.
Those expressing interest in replacing him include state Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st; state Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. of Youngstown, D-60th; Mahoning County Recorder Ronald Gerberry of Austintown, a former state representative; and former Mahoning County Commissioner Ed Reese of Boardman.
After getting the recommendations from the Democratic parties in the four counties in the 33rd Ohio Senate District, the four leadership members of the Democratic Senate Caucus would interview the recommended candidates, Hagan said.
Hagan said Prentiss asked him to not be involved in the replacement process should he be elected mayor. Hagan selected state Sen. Dan Brady of Cleveland, D-23rd, to take his place on the four-person leadership team interviewing the candidates. Mallory is the assistant minority leader and would also have to select a replacement if elected Cincinnati mayor.
After the interview process, the leadership would recommend to the full Democratic Senate Caucus someone to succeed Hagan. It would be up to the caucus' members to vote on Hagan's successor.
Prentiss is focused on getting Hagan and Mallory elected as mayors of their respective cities, and would issue a press release Wednesday about the replacement process if both or either are successful, said Kris Long, Senate minority chief of staff.