4 Republicans running for office

There are fewer than 900 registered Republicans in Youngstown.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Only four Republicans -- including one who voted in last year's Democratic primary -- filed to run for elected offices in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
Of the four, Newton Falls Judge Larry Turner won't have a political party designation next to his name on the November ballot. Judicial general election races are nonpartisan even though there are partisan primaries for those positions.
"It's challenging for Republicans in most urban areas," said Mark Munroe, the Mahoning County Republican Party's vice chairman. "We're in an environment that is so heavily Democratic."
Adam L. Rutushin, who filed for Youngstown's 1st Ward council seat, may not be eligible to run as a Republican for the position. He voted in the 2006 Democratic primary so the Mahoning County Board of Elections will consider his eligibility at its Tuesday meeting.
Rutushin changed his voting residency three days before Thursday's filing deadline from a house in Boardman to an apartment complex he owns on West Wood Street.
If he is ruled eligible, Rutushin would be the only Republican running for a seat in Youngstown.
In 2005, Republicans fielded candidates for two of the three partisan races in Youngstown -- mayor and city council president. But Jay Williams, an independent candidate who won the mayoral seat, received considerably more campaign contributions from Republicans than Robert Korchnak, the party's mayoral nominee.
By the numbers
In 2003, Republicans had candidates for four of the seven Youngstown council seats and for council president.
"There aren't any Republicans in Youngstown," Munroe said.
Not exactly, but pretty close. There are only 897 registered Republicans in Youngstown compared with 17,395 registered Democrats, according to the county board of elections.
In Struthers, there are 274 registered Republicans in that city compared with 4,212 registered Democrats.
The party hasn't fielded a candidate in Struthers in years.
Republicans have done everything from advertise for candidates in 2001 to holding an open house Feb. 17 in a recruitment effort. It didn't work for this year's election, but Munroe said there were about a dozen prospective candidates looking at running for office in the 2008 election.
The only other Republican to file by Thursday's deadline to be on the May 8 primary in Mahoning County is John H. Yerian III for Poland mayor. No Democrats filed to seek the seat. The deadline to run as an independent candidate is May 7, the day before the primary.
If successful, Yerian would replace Ruth Wilkes, a Republican not seeking re-election.
William Binning, chairman of the Youngstown State University political science department and former Mahoning GOP chairman from 1980 to 1988, said the basic problem is the two counties are heavily Democratic, which scares away politicians from running as Republicans.
"It's an uphill battle," Binning said of getting Republicans elected.
Republicans can win
But it's possible, he said. Youngstown Councilman Richard Atkinson of the 3rd Ward is a Republican. Years ago, the late Jack Hunter, a Republican, served as Youngstown mayor, and Republicans have held partisan positions in the two counties.
Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini agrees with Binning that it's possible for Republicans to win.
"They've had success in past years," she said. "I like to think the Democrats are successful because folks in the Valley have embraced our strong candidates and strong ideals."
Antonini, Munroe and Binning point out that Republicans have enjoyed success over the years in nonpartisan races for township trustees and judges.
"Democrats are going to focus on efforts on gaining back those judicial seats," Antonini said.
Besides Judge Turner, who then-Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican, appointed in September 2006 to replace a retiring Democrat, the only other Republican to file in Trumbull County for a seat is Mary A. Theis for Warren mayor. She will challenge Mayor Michael O'Brien, a Democrat, in the general election.
"We had a few inquiries and we offered assistance, but that's as far as it went," said Trumbull GOP Chairman Craig Bonar. "Being a Republican is a big problem. We're outnumbered 16 to 1 in Warren and it's worse in other places."
Developing a strong Young Republicans club would help get Republicans elected in the county, he said.
Because Republicans fared poorly in last year's statewide executive office elections, Bonar said he wasn't surprised that there are only two GOP candidates this year.
"I was always discouraged in the past about not getting candidates, but with the past election results, I'm not this time," he said.
In 2003 and 2005, there were only three Republicans on the ballot in Trumbull County. They all lost.
skolnick@vindy.com