Boccieri raises six figures in about six weeks

It didn’t take long for state Sen. John Boccieri to be financially competitive in his congressional bid.

Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat, announced May 8 that he was running in next year’s 16th Congressional District race. Between May 15 and June 30, Boccieri raised $155,200, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

All declared congressional candidates had to file financial reports for the year’s second quarter, April 1 to June 30, with the FEC by Sunday.

While the district is at least 30 miles from Boccieri’s Mahoning County home, he is receiving financial support from those in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys.

Of the $56,700 Boccieri received in itemized individual contributions, $33,300 came from residents of the valleys. That works out to 59 percent of those contributions. Candidates don’t have to list contributions of less than $200 from individuals on their campaign finance reports.

Anthony Cafaro Sr., president of his family’s Youngstown-based property development and management company, and his wife, Phyllis, each contributed $4,600 to Boccieri’s campaign. Also giving Boccieri $4,600 were Atty. Michael Morley, the former Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman, and James E. Winner Jr., president of the Sharon-based Winner International company.

Boccieri’s 33rd state Senate district includes the western portion of Stark County, which is in the 16th Congressional District. Boccieri said he may move to western Stark. Members of Congress don’t have to live in the district they represent.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator or www.vindy.com