Fortune drops out of Ohio House race

By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The candidate who had the most elected experience of all the candidates in the 60th Ohio House District race is no longer seeking the position.
James E. Fortune Sr., who served on Youngstown City Council for 22 years, officially withdrew from the race Monday.
He was among seven Democrats running in the May 2 primary for the post. There are no Republicans seeking the position.
Those left in the Democratic primary are Youngstown Councilman Rufus Hudson, state Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, Richard A. Gozur of Campbell, Struthers Councilman Daniel R. Yemma, Ian Stublarec of Youngstown, and Michael J. Latessa of Youngstown.
Fortune, 68, said a family health situation was the reason he quit the race. He said he would consider running for elected office in the future.
One black candidate remains
If any candidate benefits from Fortune's withdrawal it is Hudson, said Paul Sracic, a Youngstown State University political science professor. Hudson is now the only black candidate from Youngstown, which makes up a majority of the House district, in the race.
Hudson supported Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams in his November 2005 victory over five other candidates, most notably Hagan.
"If he can manage to rely on the same people who helped Williams, it would help his candidacy," Sracic said.
Hudson said he hopes the same people who supported Williams will help him.
"If Jay is going to be a successful mayor, he's going to need someone in Columbus who can help Youngstown and the entire 60th District," Hudson said.
State Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr., a Youngstown Democrat who's held the House seat for more than seven years, can't run for re-election this year because of state term limits.
skolnick@vindy.com