Principal to seek Ohio House seat

An appeals court judge is seeking re-election.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Campbell Memorial High School principal filed nominating petitions to run in the crowded 60th Ohio House District Democratic primary.
Richard A. Gozur, 53, said his 30 years of experience in the education field, including the past 12 as Campbell Memorial High School principal, combined with his 14 years as Campbell City Council vice president [a position since eliminated] makes him an ideal candidate.
"The Democrats are going to do some good in the state this year, and I want to be part of it," Gozur said.
Gozur is the second Democratic candidate in the 60th District race to file his nominating petitions, doing so Monday. Youngstown Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2nd, filed his petitions two weeks ago.
A number of other Democrats have announced their intentions to file for the seat before the Feb. 16 deadline to run in the May 2 primary. They are state Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-33rd; Struthers Councilman Dan Yemma, D-3rd; Anthony Caldwell of Youngstown, a former Mahoning County Democratic Party executive director; Mike Latessa of Youngstown, a former accountant with Cohen and Co.; and Bill Flickinger of Youngstown.
State Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr., a Youngstown Democrat, cannot seek re-election this year to the seat because of the state's term limits law.
The district
The House district includes Youngstown and much of northeast Mahoning County. It is a strong Democratic seat.
Mahoning Republicans officials are looking for a candidate. Robert Korchnak of Youngstown may be interested in the seat, Mahoning GOP officials say. Korchnak, Hagan and Flickinger all unsuccessfully ran last year for Youngstown mayor.
Also Monday, Judge Mary DeGenaro of Poland filed her nominating petitions to run for a second six-year term on the 7th District Court of Appeals.
Judge DeGenaro said the judicial panel has accomplished much during her term including improving how it handles its docket and is finally resolving its space problem.
The court is moving to a newly-constructed building on West Federal Street in a few months from its cramped quarters at the county common pleas courthouse.
skolnick@vindy.com