43
Records shed light on 2 state hopefuls
Photo
Lisa Antonini, democrat, Mahoning County Treasurer and former Chairwoman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party
Photo
State Sen. John Boccieri of Alliance, D-33rd
Photo
David Engler
One finalist was reprimanded by the state Supreme Court and another has two DUI convictions.
YOUNGSTOWN — A little baggage comes with two of the three candidates recommended by Mahoning County Democratic Party officials for a soon-to-be-vacant state Senate seat.
The party’s executive committee recommended as its three candidates ex-Mahoning County Commissioner David Engler, who serves on the county educational service board; Struthers Councilman at-large Daniel R. Yemma, who is also the county treasurer office’s chief deputy treasurer; and Poland Trustee Robert Lidle.
The Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus will appoint one of the finalists recommended by the four county Democratic parties in the 33rd District to replace John Boccieri, who will resign later this month to serve in Congress. Mahoning is the largest county in terms of population in the district.
Engler was the No. 1 choice of the Mahoning Democratic executive committee and received more votes on a sliding scale — 3 points for 1st choice, 2 points for 2nd choice and 1 point for 3rd choice — than Yemma and Lidle combined.
Engler received 57 points, Yemma had 31, and Lidle received 25 points, according to those at the closed-door meeting.
In August 2006, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a “public reprimand” to Engler, an attorney.
The court ruled that Engler violated “the Code of Professional Responsibility by engaging in a sexual relationship with a client.” The court ruled that Engler violated the code with “conduct that adversely reflects on a lawyer’s fitness to practice law” and by “accepting employment if the exercise of professional judgment on behalf of a client will be or reasonably may be affected by the lawyer’s personal interests.”
Engler had consensual sex with a client, and also purchased two of her paintings, crediting $400 of the $1,000 in legal fees she owed him. Engler then told the woman he could no longer represent her, and he returned the paintings, according to the court ruling.
Engler couldn’t be reached Wednesday to comment. Several attempts during the past two weeks by The Vindicator to contact him were unsuccessful.
Lidle was convicted of driving under the influence twice in less than a year.
Lidle was convicted May 20, 2002, of DUI after being arrested Nov. 8, 2001, two days after he was first elected Poland trustee.
Lidle was found guilty March 24, 2003, for a second DUI. He was arrested Oct. 26, 2002, on that charge.
Lidle said Wednesday that he made “mistakes” in his life and takes full responsibility for them. He added that he’s learned from those mistakes and has proved himself to be an effective officeholder.
Even with the two convictions, Lidle points out that he was re-elected in 2005.
Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini said that the three recommended Tuesday by the executive committee are good candidates and their past mistakes shouldn’t play a factor in selecting the next state senator.
“I hope they focus on the positive,” she said. The decision is “up to the Democratic caucus. It’s up to those in Columbus to figure it out.”
As the county’s chief deputy treasurer, Yemma works for Antonini, the county treasurer.
“I don’t believe working for me played any factor in him doing well,” Antonini said of Yemma.
skolnick@vindy.com