Cafaro, Wilson to go to Senate

One new senator says jobs for the district will be his No. 1 priority.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Ohio Senate leaders said electability and knowledge of state government were major factors in Senate Democrats' choosing Capri Cafaro and Jason Wilson to fill the unexpired terms of state Sens. Marc Dann of Trumbull County and Charlie Wilson of Belmont County, respectively.
Dann was elected state attorney general while Charlie Wilson was elected to Congress on Nov. 7.
"They both were good candidates," Senate Minority Leader C.J. Prentiss said of Cafaro and Wilson after a closed-door meeting of the Senate Democratic caucus Tuesday.
Prentiss, of Cleveland, who leaves office at the end of the year, said she thinks both Cafaro and Wilson will contribute much to the caucus.
"Our Senate candidates are electable. They come with a high level of knowledge on state government," added incoming Minority Leader Teresa Fedor of Toledo.
"They will do a fine job of representing their constituents," Fedor said. Fedor becomes Senate minority leader in the Legislature that is seated in January.
Fedor said Cafaro and Wilson stood out because of their "passion to serve their constituents. They were very knowledgeable about their districts, they had good connections with the people that are the key individuals in their districts."
Fedor declined to reveal the vote on either appointment, but said they were majorities.
Cafaro, 29, of Liberty, who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House this year and in 2004, couldn't be reached to comment.
But in a prepared statement Cafaro said: "I will work hard to provide a voice for the people in my district." The district Cafaro is being appointed to includes all of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
Other contenders
Others who sought the appointment were state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles; and ex-state Sen. Anthony A. Latell Jr. of Girard, who also served in the Ohio House and as a Trumbull County commissioner, Girard council president and city councilman.
Cafaro works as a coordinator for aging and a counselor for the Medicare Rights Center, Senate Democrats say.
Stabile Harwood congratulated Cafaro on her appointment and pledged to work with her.
"I want to assure the people that my priority remains, as always, working on their behalf and in their best interest," Stabile Harwood said.
Jason Wilson, 38, of Columbiana, said he was excited about the opportunity.
"The No. 1 priority in this Senate district is creating jobs," said Jason Wilson, general manager of Wilson Furniture in Bridgeport. Jason Wilson, who is Charlie Wilson's son, said he thinks he was chosen because of his business background.
The Senate district Jason Wilson is being appointed to includes all of Columbiana, Jefferson, Harrison and Belmont counties and a part of Tuscarawas County.
Also seeking the appointment to the Wilson seat were Belmont County Commissioner Mark Thomas, a former St. Clairsville law director and councilman; and state Rep. John Domenick of Smithfield, recently elected to his third two-year term in the House.
Thomas, who vied for Wilson's seat, said he isn't ruling out a future run for either the Ohio House or the Ohio Senate.
"I'm a party guy," Thomas said. "This was a great political opportunity for me and, to the Senate leadership, I'm thankful they gave me an opportunity for an interview."
Terms expire in 2008
Cafaro and Jason Wilson would have to run for election in 2008 for a full four-year term. Senate Democratic officials said it's not known when Dann and Charlie Wilson would be resigning so that Cafaro and Jason Wilson can be installed.
Democrats will be outnumbered by Republicans 21 to 12 in the next Ohio Senate that's seated in January. The GOP currently dominates the upper chamber 22 to 11.
CONTRIBUTOR: Vindicator Politics Writer David Skolnick.