McKelvey decides to seek county job Former Youngstown mayor files to run

By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Former Youngstown Mayor George M. McKelvey didn't stay retired from politics for long.
McKelvey was among four candidates to file by Thursday's deadline to run for Mahoning County commissioner for the May 2 Democratic primary. He finished his eighth year as mayor Dec. 31.
"Almost six weeks of vacation from public life has been enough for me, and I'm sure it's been too much for my wife," McKelvey said.
Commissioner David Ludt of Poland filed to run for his third four-year term.
Also filing were James Vivo of Canfield, an attorney and former county board of elections employee, and Thomas W. Carney of Boardman, a retired operating engineer. This Carney is not the Thomas Carney who is a former county commissioner and said he is not related to him.
No Republicans filed for this seat. Independent candidates have until May 1, the day before the primary to file nominating petitions for the November general election.
OK with him
When asked about McKelvey, Ludt said everyone who is eligible to run for public office has the right to get in the race.
McKelvey spent this week circulating nominating petitions for five different races: county commissioner, county auditor, the 60th Ohio House District, the 33rd Ohio Senate District, and the 17th Congressional District.
McKelvey, a former county treasurer, said he has thought of running for another political office for quite some time, and thinks he can best serve the community as a county commissioner.
McKelvey angered many local Democratic officials in 2004, when he crossed party lines to endorse President Bush's re-election and suggested Democrats are not religious.
"The left wing hates George Bush the most because he believes in God, and you better believe that," McKelvey told the Ohio caucus at the Republican National Convention in 2004.
While he was wooed by Republicans and campaigned numerous times with the Republican president, McKelvey never changed his political affiliation.
Ohio House race
The 60th Ohio House race features seven Democratic candidates and no Republicans.
Only one candidate from each of the two major parties filed to run for 59th Ohio House seat: state Rep. Kenneth A. Carano, an Austintown Democrat, and Atty. Mark A. Hanni of Boardman, who switched party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2002 during a failed bid to get elected county GOP chairman.
State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, opted not to run for re-election to his seat. The two Republicans and one Democrat seeking to replace him in the Ohio House don't live in Mahoning County.
Boccieri is the lone Democrat running for the 33rd Ohio Senate seat. Outgoing state Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. of Youngstown, D-60th, had considered a run for the Senate seat.
On the Republican side, Tracey S. Monroe-Winbush, a former Youngstown school board member, filed for the Senate seat.
Judge Mary DeGenaro of the 7th District Court of Appeals is the only Republican in the race. Three Democrats are running in the May primary to face the one-term judge in the November general election.
No opposition
In the congressional races, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, has no opposition in the Democratic primary and no Republican filed to challenge him in November.
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette of Concord, R-14th, is the only Republican in his race. Three Democrats are vying for their party's nomination in the May primary.
The 6th Congressional District features four Democrats and five Republicans. U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Lisbon Democrat, opted not to seek re-election. He is running for governor.
skolnick@vindy.com