Mahoning Democrats to pick 3 for vacancy

By David Skolnick

Plenty are interested in getting the nod to finish the Ohio Senate term of John Boccieri.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Democratic Party’s executive committee will recommend three candidates today to succeed John Boccieri in the state Senate.

Among those vying for the seat are five current officeholders, two ex-Youngstown councilmen and a former Mahoning County commissioner.

The three selected by the Mahoning Democrats will be interviewed by the four-member Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus’ leadership team. The candidate selected by those four will then be considered by the full 11-member caucus.

The person selected will finish the final two years of Boccieri’s unexpired term in the 33rd District.

Mahoning makes up the majority of the district, which also includes all of Carroll County and portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties.

“I believe the next person should be from Mahoning County,” said Socrates Space, Tuscarawas County Democratic chairman. “It’s the largest county in the district. I’ve only got five townships in that district. My voice is fairly muted” on replacing Boccieri, who will resign later this month to serve in Congress.

Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini also said Boccieri’s replacement should come from her county.

Being from Mahoning County “is a factor, but it isn’t the only factor,” said incoming Minority Leader Capri Cafaro, of Liberty, D-32nd, who will be among four Senate Democrats screening the finalists. “We have to pick the most qualified individual.”

The candidates expected to emerge as the finalists, according to a few Mahoning Democratic executive committee members, are: ex-Mahoning County Commissioner David Engler, Boardman Trustee Robyn Gallitto and Poland Trustee Robert Lidle, with Engler as the top choice.

The other candidates seeking the recommendation of Mahoning Democratic are:

URufus Hudson, a former Youngstown 2nd Ward councilman who lost a 2006 Democratic primary for the 60th Ohio House District seat.

UPaul Pancoe, a former Youngstown 6th Ward councilman who lost the 2003 and 2007 Democratic primaries for the seat. He was appointed in September 2004 to the post after Clarence Boles resigned. He lost the 2007 Democratic primary to Janet Tarpley.

UAlliance Councilman-at-large Steve Okey. Okey is the only candidate not from Mahoning seeking the county Democratic party’s recommendation. Okey, of Stark County, is expected to be the top contender for the post who is not from Mahoning.

UStruthers Councilman at large Daniel R. Yemma, who is also the Mahoning County treasurer office’s chief deputy treasurer. Yemma works for Antonini, who is the county treasurer. Like Hudson, Yemma lost the 2006 Democratic primary for the 60th Ohio House District seat.

UDavid Sisk, legislative assistant to state Rep. Mark Okey of Carrollton, D-61st. Mark Okey’s brother is the Alliance councilman seeking the Senate seat. Sisk lost a 2002 Democratic primary for the 59th Ohio House District seat and the 2005 race for a seat on the Boardman school board.

UNew Middletown Councilman Anthony Didio.

USam Moffie, who has unsuccessfully run for Mahoning County commissioner and Boardman trustee.

UStacia Erdos Littleton, former television new anchor at WYTV in Youngstown and currently a weekend anchor and reporter for a Pittsburgh TV station, WPXI. This is her first attempt at seeking public office.

Mahoning and Trumbull counties’ AFL-CIO on Monday endorsed Lidle.

The other county Democratic parties in the district have until Dec. 12 to submit up to three nominees for the job, which pays about $59,000 annually. The caucus’s four-person leadership team will meet with those recommended as early as Dec. 15. The leadership team will then recommend a candidate to the full 11-member caucus for a final decision shortly thereafter.

Other candidates who have sought the recommendation of county Democratic parties — other than Mahoning — in the district for the job include:

UBrian R. Thomas, of Perrysville in Carroll County. He lost the 2004 race for the 18th Congressional District.

UKathleen Purdy, of Alliance, a longtime teacher.

UTony Danzo, of Union Township in Tuscarawas County, owner of Municipal Services Corp., a consulting firm to local governments on planning, grant writing and project management. He served on the New Philadelphia City Council in the early 1980s and unsuccessfully ran for commissioner in his county twice.

Carroll County Democratic Chairwoman Ruby Gilliam said she’s endorsing Thomas and Steve Okey.

Space said he’ll have a decision by the deadline.

Stark County Democratic Chairman Johnnie Maier couldn’t be reached Monday to comment.

skolnick@vindy.com