State races attracting candidates

The race to replace state Rep. John Boccieri is seen as very competitive.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- With three open state Legislature seats representing Mahoning County on the ballot this year, a number of people -- largely elected officials -- are looking to fill them.
State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, will face Mahoning County Recorder Ronald Gerberry of Austintown, a former 19-year Ohio House member, in the Democratic primary in May for the 33rd Ohio Senate District seat. State Sen. Robert F. Hagan, a Youngstown Democrat, cannot run for re-election to the seat because of the state's term limits law.
Boccieri announced his candidacy Monday at the Chevrolet Centre in front of a group of about 75 people, including local labor leaders, military veterans and politicians.
A three-term House member and Air Force Reserve pilot, Boccieri also had considered runs for Congress and Ohio secretary of state.
"I still hope someday to move up to the next level," Boccieri said.
Don Crane, president of the Western Reserve Building and Construction Trades Council, said Gerberry is a longtime labor supporter, but Boccieri is getting his support.
"At times, people view Ron as a career politician," Crane said. "I believe John brings new ideas and a fresh face and not an old political attitude."
Gerberry's response
Just because labor leaders attended Boccieri's campaign announcement doesn't mean the membership supports the House member in the Senate race, Gerberry said.
Also, if the worst that could be said about Gerberry is he's a "career politician," he said he's done a good job.
State Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. of Youngstown, D-60th, is considering a run for the Senate seat. He cannot run for re-election to the Ohio House because of the state's term limit law.
The Senate district includes all of Mahoning and Carroll counties and portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties. In the 2002 election for the 33rd seat, 78.7 percent of the vote came from Mahoning County and it is considered a solid Democratic district.
Mark Munroe, Mahoning County Republican Party vice chairman, said no Republican has expressed interest in running for the Senate post. The filing deadline is Feb. 16
Patton's district, which includes Youngstown and much of northeast Mahoning County, is a strong Democratic seat.
Youngstown Councilman Rufus Hudson said he's filing nominating petitions Wednesday for the 60th District. Mike Latessa of Youngstown, a political newcomer, resigned in April as an accountant at Cohen and Co. to concentrate on running for the seat. Struthers Councilman Dan Yemma is looking at seeking the post.
Other possibilities
Hagan also is interested in running for the House seat he used to hold, said Gerberry and Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini. Hagan, who lost the Youngstown mayoral race two months ago, couldn't be reached to comment.
Republicans are "actively recruiting" candidates for the 60th and 61st House seats as well as for the 59th House seat, Munroe said.
State Rep. Kenneth Carano, an Austintown Democrat, is running for his fourth term in the 59th. Among the communities in the 59th are Boardman, Canfield, Jackson, Poland and most of Austintown.
The race to succeed Boccieri in the 61st District will be very competitive, say Democratic and Republican leaders in the district.
Stark has the most residents in the district that also takes in all of Carroll and portions of Mahoning and Tuscarawas counties. The Mahoning part of the district includes Beaver, Springfield, Smith, Goshen and Green townships.
Republicans
Brant Luther of Alliance, a former city councilman and Stark County auditor, is strongly looking at running for the 61st as a Republican, Munroe said. Luther is a Stark County Probate Court magistrate. Typically, magistrates must resign to seek elected office. Luther declined Monday to discuss the race.
Also, Randy Pope of Alliance, a former city councilman who's lost twice to Boccieri, is considering a third run as a Republican for the House position.
"The Boccieri seat is a question mark," Antonini said. "It's going to be hard for any Democrat besides John Boccieri to win that seat. It's a swing district. We have to be prepared with a strong candidate."
Antonini will meet Friday with Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern to discuss the seat and plans to meet with the chairmen of the district's other three counties to find the best candidate.
Stark County Democratic Chairman Johnnie Maier said that with Boccieri's announcement that he won't run for re-election, Democrats will come forward to seek the position.
In other political news, John Stephen Luchansky of Poland has filed to run in the Democratic primary for the 6th Congressional District. He ran as a write-in for the post in the 2004 general election.
skolnick@vindy.com