Independent candidate acknowledges vendetta

The 'vendetta' against the Democratic mayoral nominee is 19 years old.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- An independent mayoral candidate says he is running for the job primarily because he has a "personal vendetta" against the Democratic nominee for the post.
The vendetta goes back to a 1986 state House Democratic primary.
At a Monday press conference, mayoral candidate Brendan J. Gilmartin said when it became apparent to him that state Sen. Robert F. Hagan was going to win the Democratic mayoral primary, he decided to get in the race. Hagan won the May primary defeating six other Democrats.
Gilmartin is still bothered that Hagan challenged and defeated his father, Thomas P. Gilmartin, in a 1986 state House Democratic primary.
"Also, I don't think he's been an very effective senator," the younger Gilmartin said of Hagan.
The elder Gilmartin, who is serving as treasurer of his son's mayoral campaign, had considered running for governor in 1986. Instead, Gilmartin, a 26-year state legislator, decided to run for re-election to the Ohio House. Hagan won the Democratic primary and the general election in 1986.
"I'm surprised he'd say he has a vendetta," Hagan said when told of the younger Gilmartin's comments. "I'm not going to deal with vendettas and personal attacks. This race is too important to the city of Youngstown to be thinking about personal vendettas."
Uphill battle
Gilmartin said he's in the race to win and not just to cut Hagan's vote total.
Gilmartin said he faces an uphill battle to win the six-person November mayoral election, and it's going to be a bit more challenging with his Monday announcement that he isn't going to accept campaign contributions from anyone besides family members. He expects to spend about $5,000 on his campaign.
Gilmartin acknowledged donors aren't knocking down his door to give him money. He said he's been offered money by two or three people.
Gilmartin said when seeking contributions, his campaign fund committee was surprised that many people in the city couldn't afford to give any money.
Hagan raised about $150,000 to win the Democratic primary and spent about $120,000 of it.
Hagan said he expects to raise about $100,000 for the general election.
"I need to raise that amount because I have no idea what the independents are going to raise," he said.
Those who ran in the Democratic primary had to file post-primary reports showing financial activity to June 3. Hagan and the five other mayoral candidates in the Nov. 8 general election don't have to file a pre-election financial report until Oct. 27.
Jay Williams, an independent candidate, is actively raising campaign funds and says he'll have enough money to run a strong campaign.
skolnick@vindy.com