Bush ties have little effect on run

William Binning of YSU thinks McKelvey has a shot to win a commissioner seat.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The former mayor of Youngstown, who boldly supported President Bush during the 2004 campaign, is running for a new office -- and he's still a Democrat.
If anyone is angry with George McKelvey for backing Bush and criticizing the left wing, McKelvey hasn't noticed.
"I have never been received more warmly in my life," said McKelvey, who is campaigning for a seat on the three-member board of commissioners in heavily blue-collar Mahoning County.
McKelvey upset Democrats across the country when he stated during the Republican National Convention: "The left wing hates George Bush the most because he believes in God, and you better believe that."
But the remark and his relationship with Bush aren't fatal to his candidacy in next month's Democratic primary, said political science professor William Binning of Youngstown State University.
He thinks McKelvey, who served eight years as mayor and left office at the end of December because of term limits, has a shot to win.
"When you're the mayor of Youngstown, you're pretty big down here. He's sort of got celebrity status," Binning said. "Some of the Democratic voters are overlooking his sins."
Democratic supporter
Phyllis Vivod, 68, of Campbell is one of them. The registered Democrat voted for Bush and doesn't even remember McKelvey's remark from the convention.
"He's OK with me as far as I'm concerned," Vivod said.
McKelvey, who is prone to fiery rants, said the "God" comment was not aimed at the hardworking Democrats of Youngstown.
"It was directed to the Hollywood nutballs," McKelvey said. "I couldn't even use strong enough terms to describe how anti-Christian they are."
McKelvey, 56, said his campaign is motivated by his love of public service. He never considered switching parties or running as an independent. And he scoffs at the widespread expectation that Bush was going to give him a job.
"That's a mystery," Binning said. "Why isn't he assistant secretary of HUD or ambassador to Bermuda -- someplace without nuclear weapons?"
McKelvey said he never was offered a job and never asked for one. He said his goal in supporting Bush was to help the nearby Youngstown Air Reserve Station avoid last year's base closings by the Pentagon.
Takes credit
The air base survived and McKelvey isn't shy about taking credit.
"You'd have to be stuck on stupid not to know who had a greater impact on keeping the air base open -- Mayor McKelvey, who met with the president on eight occasions, or the other side that was blowing up 30-foot rats, putting his name on it and calling him profane names," McKelvey said.
His opponent, David Ludt, a former tow-truck company owner, is seeking his third term as county commissioner. Ludt said he's running on his record and won't make an issue of McKelvey's ties to Bush.
But Ludt disputes McKelvey's claim about the air base, saying the Pentagon never intended to close it.
Elmer Smith, 87, of Struthers, does feel McKelvey helped save air base jobs. For decades, Smith has followed Mahoning Valley politics, which is somewhat of a pastime in the three-county area bordering Pennsylvania.
But even if McKelvey helped save the air base, it doesn't mean Smith will vote for him.
"I don't think he had enough backbone in office," Smith said. "Someone always was pulling the strings for him."
Besides, Ludt once hauled Smith's broken-down car all the way from Cleveland.
In addition to Ludt's old towing customers, McKelvey won't get much support from union voters, Binning said.
"Union leaders were dumbfounded that he ran and they were very much opposed to him," Binning said.
That doesn't worry McKelvey, who thinks political endorsements are worthless.
"You can't even tell your wife how to vote let alone have the audacity to think you can command your members," McKelvey said.
He knows that firsthand. His wife voted for John Kerry.