Mahoning Dems vote to dummy down

The appointment of Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairwoman Lisa Antonini to the position of county treasurer completes the transformation of the Democrats for Change from a new-age political organization to an old-fashioned, smoke-filled-room bunch of hacks.
When the Change group was formed in 1993 by then political novice Michael Morley and others who had tired of Don L. Hanni Jr.'s party leadership, the call to arms was clear: We will get rid of the bums in government at all levels in the county and fill those jobs on the basis of qualifications and experience.
Morley put together a slate of precinct committeemen and women, and in the party's reorganization meeting in May 1994 led a successful coup that made statewide headlines. The "Bull Moose" was replaced by the soft-spoken Thespian who had never been actively involved in party politics.
The Change movement started off well, but it wasn't long before cracks began to appear in the good-government facade.
Nonetheless, Change Democrats have maintained control of the party, which is how Antonini became chairwoman in 2002.
And while local politics are a kinder and gentler version, compared with Hanni's take-no-prisoners approach, the Change movement's reason for being has been tossed aside.
Two cases in point: The September 2005 selection of Michael Sciortino to the position of county auditor; and, the March 3 appointment of Antonini as county treasurer.
Neither got the position because of qualifications -- this becomes clear when their r & eacute;sum & eacute;s are compared with those of their predecessors.
Elections board
Sciortino was the director of the board of elections -- a political post -- when he threw his hat in the ring for the county auditor job that came open with the July 2005 resignation of George Tablack.
Tablack, a certified public accountant, had been in the position for 181/2 years, succeeding long-time Democratic politico Stephen R. Olenick. For the first time in a quarter century, a legitimate bean counter with the appropriate college education and experience in government accounting was in charge of the office.
Yes, Tablack was an arrogant so-and-so (use the crude 'p' word, he'll wear it as a badge of honor), but he brought a level of professionalism to the management of county finances that had not been seen before.
His departure became a defining moment for the Democratic Party. Sadly, the precinct committeemen and women failed the assignment. Sciortino has a master's degree in public administration and a law degree that is a wall adornment. His claim to fame: He had served as a deputy county administrator and director of the board of elections.
Yet, he had no qualms about taking over the auditor's job -- despite lacking experience with GAP (makes you wonder if he immediately thought of the shopping mall when he first heard the word mentioned, rather than General Accounting Principles) or with county government finances.
Antonini became an employee of the treasurer's office in November 1999 after working for the Democratic Party. The treasurer was John Reardon, who possessed the educational qualifications and the private sector experience to serve as Mahoning County's moneyman, responsible for collecting, investing and protecting millions of tax dollars.
Reardon was appointed to the post by the party when George M. McKelvey, an assistant school principal and former city councilman, was elected mayor of Youngstown.
Commendable service
Reardon's service in county government was marked by good financial stewardship and creativity. But last month, he left to join the administration of Gov. Ted Strickland, and Antonini made a bid to succeed him -- after saying she was not interested in the job.
That she ended up being the only contender for the party's appointment speaks volumes. It is also revealing that there was no outpouring of concern over her decision to retain her Democratic chairmanship.
As the political leader, her primary role is to raise money for elections and other party activities. As the county treasurer, one of her chief responsibilities is the selection of financial institutions and investment instruments for the millions of tax dollars.
How do you define "pay-to-play?"
Mahoning County Democratic Party leaders can regain some level of credibility by demanding that Antonini resign as chairwoman.