Candidate irked by unauthorized use of name

YOUNGSTOWN — A Youngstown city council candidate is miffed at a city school board candidate who sent campaign cards to about 1,000 homes asking residents to vote for both of them.

John R. Swierz, the Democratic candidate for 7th Ward council, said he didn’t give permission to Michael J. Murphy, a city school board candidate, to use his name on the cards.

The cards mailed to 7th Ward residents tout the two as Democrats — Murphy is running in a nonpartisan race — and urge voters to support the pair.

“I didn’t authorize him to use my name,” Swierz said. “It makes it appear we’re in partnership.”

They are not, Swierz said.

Attempts on Monday to reach Murphy were unsuccessful.

Swierz said he spoke to Murphy after he heard about the cards and asked why he included the council candidate’s name.

“He said that he was informed it was OK to do it,” Swierz said. “But it’s inappropriate. If he asked, I would have nixed it.”

With the cards mailed and Tuesday being Election Day, Swierz said it’s probably too late to do anything about this. But he said he may file a complaint with the Mahoning County Board of Elections against Murphy.

Swierz, a former city councilman for 6 1/2 years, is running against Robert C. Korchnak today for the council seat.

Murphy is among seven candidates running for four seats on the city board of education.

“You need to run on your own,” Swierz said. “If someone doesn’t like Murphy, they might not vote for me; or if someone doesn’t like me, they might not vote for Murphy.”