Expect predictable results at party elections in Valley

The two political party leaders are running unopposed for re-election.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Democratic and Republican precinct committee members will meet -- separately, of course -- this week to elect officers for their political parties.
But there won't be a fight to displace the leaders of either political party.
Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini of Austintown and Republican Chairman Clarence Smith of Boardman are running unopposed for re-election to four-year terms. This would be Antonini's second term and Smith's third.
Mahoning Democrats had to submit nominating petitions with the signatures of five precinct committee members to run for party positions. The party's reorganizational meeting is at 6 tonight at the Byzantine Center at the Grove at 3081 Shady Run Road in Youngstown.
Mahoning Democrats voted in April to change the names and responsibilities of party officers and to eliminate a few posts.
The party precinct members also voted to made the terms of all party officers four years. Only the party chairman or chairwoman had served for four years while the others served for two years. All positions, with the exception of party chairman or woman, are required to serve as precinct committee members.
Not alone
Antonini isn't the only unopposed candidate.
State Rep. Kenneth Carano of Austintown, who serves as the party's parliamentarian and its elections committee chairman, is the only candidate for the new post of executive vice chairman.
Outgoing state Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. of Youngstown is running unopposed for the position of vice chairman in charge of minority affairs.
Donna Wilson of Youngstown submitted a nominating petition to run for treasurer. The post is being vacated by Michael Kerensky of Canfield, who didn't run for a precinct committee member post in the May 2 primary.
Those seeking the post of vice chairman in charge of labor relations are Sam Matheny of Craig Beach, Charles A. Altiero of Poland Township and Jaladah Aslam of Austintown.
Dorothy McLaughlin of Struthers and Mark Belinky of Boardman are running for secretary. The position is held by Kathleen Duzzny of Austintown, who isn't seeking re-election.
The voting on the Republican side will be anti-climactic.
Those interested in the positions of chairman, vice chairman and chairwoman had to submit letters of interest. With the deadline past, only one person formally expressed interest for each of the three positions.
The Republican precinct committee members will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Avion on the Water banquet hall at 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.
At the meeting, the members will re-elect Smith as chairman, and vice chairman Mark Munroe will be re-elected to his third consecutive four-year term, his fifth overall.
There will be a new face among Mahoning Republican leadership, however.
Jemimah D. Robbs of Youngstown, a Youngstown State University student who served as past president of the university's College Republicans, is running unopposed for party chairwoman.
The position's main responsibilities are to serve as liaison between the party and Republican women's clubs in the county, and to encourage and increase female participation in the party.
Robbs will replace ex-Beaver Township Trustee Kim Ohlin as party chairwoman.
skolnick@vindy.com