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Antonini defends selection process for Senate seat
The process to replace John Boccieri in the state Senate hasn’t been easy.
Some high-profile names had interest, but opted not to seek the appointment.
But there were plenty of others who want the job. The most notable are/were: ex-county Commissioner David Engler, Poland Trustee Robert Lidle, Boardman Trustee Robyn Gallitto, Struthers Councilman-at-Large Daniel Yemma, and Alliance Councilman-at-Large Steve Okey.
There was also a lower tier of candidates who decided to seek one of the three recommendations from the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s executive committee when its members met Tuesday.
The three other counties in Boccieri’s 33rd Ohio Senate District will also provide up to three nominees for consideration.
The final decision on replacing Boccieri, who leaves the state Senate at the end of the month for a seat in the U.S. House, rests with the 11 members of the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus.
The deadline to submit a letter of interest to the county Democratic party for the seat was last Friday. About eight sent letters to the party after the deadline. The party opted to consider those candidates nonetheless.
In all, there were 17 candidates seeking one of the party’s three recommendations.
That doesn’t include ex-Youngstown Councilman Paul Pancoe and David Sisk, legislative aide to state Rep. Mark Okey, who withdrew their names from consideration just before the committee met. [It’s strange/amusing/funny that Sisk was seeking an appointment that Steve Okey, his boss’ brother, also wants and is considered a top contender for the job.]
Because The Vindicator ran about a half-dozen articles in the days leading up to Tuesday’s meeting, Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini said there was no reason to contact those interested in being recommended. The articles didn’t include the time and location of the meeting.
But Antonini said everyone knew the meeting was Tuesday and if they wanted a recommendation the candidates should have called her or an executive committee member to find out the when and where.
That didn’t sit well with some candidates. William Adams of Austintown received an e-mail from Antonini less than two and a half hours before the meeting. Sam Moffie of Boardman said he received no notification. Both expressed strong displeasure with the process.
“It’s there responsibility to find out when the meeting is being held,” Antonini said. “I’m not making any apologies.”
The committee interviewed eight candidates with Engler, who serves on the county school board and is a proven vote-getter, clearly the No. 1 choice.
Yemma was second with Lidle in third.
The biggest blow was to Gallitto, who finished a very distant fifth. Helping to seal her fate, she brought a letter of recommendation from county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains to the meeting. To say the relationship between Antonini, who appoints the executive committee, and Gains is frosty is like saying a hurricane is a bit windy.
As mentioned in a Thursday article, Engler and Lidle carry a little baggage.
Lidle was found guilty twice — May 20, 2002, and March 24, 2003 — of driving under the influence. Lidle acknowledges his mistakes and said he’s turned his life around and has proven himself to be an effective officeholder.
The Ohio Supreme Court issued a “public reprimand” to Engler, an attorney, in August 2006. The court ruled he violated “the Code of Professional Responsibility by engaging in a [consensual] sexual relationship with a client.”
Engler said it could be an issue in the selection process.
“I shouldn’t have done it and I’m sorry for it,” he said.
But with a history of public service, Engler said one mistake shouldn’t define him.
Senate Democrats are looking for someone who’s electable and can raise money. They also want a lawyer in the caucus.
Regardless of what his detractors say, Engler has won countywide and has raised a lot of money.
He along with Okey, who’s also a lawyer, are the considered the top two candidates for the seat.