Independent review required of Mahoning County jail pact

Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington wants the county commissioners to terminate the contract with the Community Corrections Association Inc., which houses 96 nonviolent offenders in its misdemeanant jail on Market Street.

Before commissioners David Ludt, Anthony Traficanti and John McNally IV act on the sheriff’s request, they should seek an independent review of the issue. Wellington’s objectivity is suspect given that CCA’s Executive Director Richard Billak is supporting Wellington’s prospective opponent in the 2008 Democratic primary.

We use the word prospective not because we have any doubt that David Aey, a deputy in the sheriff’s department, and others will be seeking the office. Rather, it is designed to convey to Wellington our strong belief that he should not seek another term next year.

In 2004, we endorsed him for re-election, saying he deserved four more years — not because his first four had been problem-free and the department had been running at 100 percent efficiency — but because of his proven integrity.

We concluded the endorsement editorial saying: “He now must prove that he can manage.”

Regretfully, he has fallen short of demonstrating that he is up to the job. It’s time for Wellington to retire at the end of his term. We do not believe he has the stamina nor the stick-to-itiveness to spend another four years as Mahoning County sheriff. Winning re-election and then stepping down midterm would be a breach of the public’s trust.

Credibility

If he announces now that he has no intention of running next year, his proposal to replace CCA with local drug and alcohol rehabilitation service providers would gain some credibility. As things stand, his motives are questionable.

Thus, we urge the commissioners to invite Atty. Vincent M. Nathan of Toledo to delve into the sheriff’s proposal. Who is Nathan? He’s the one who used the word “dysfunctional” to describe Mahoning County’s criminal justice system.

Nathan was appointed by the federal court to evaluate the county jail after inmates filed a federal lawsuit claiming that their civil rights had been violated. Nathan issued a 22-page report that pulled no punches. It was, in effect, an indictment of the sheriff’s department, the courts and the prosecutor’s office.

In the end, however, the sheriff is responsible for the jail, and as we have noted in numerous editorials over the past several years, Wellington’s management leaves a lot to be desired.

Commissioners Ludt, Traficanti and McNally should ask Nathan to determine if the sheriff has legitimate reasons for wanting to end the county’s relationship with CCA, or if he is using his public position to punish a political opponent.

By the same token, Billak’s admitted support of Aey is, at the very least, unseemly. For too long, an incestuous relationship has existed between officeholders in the Mahoning Valley and individuals who do business with them.

In reacting to Wellington’s move against CCA, Billak said, “It’s Mahoning County politics at its best.” He should know. He has been a player for a long time.

We would hope that if Nathan accepts the assignment, he would also comment on the propriety of Billak’s openly supporting an individual who is running for sheriff next year.