Boccieri replacement to be named next week

The Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus is expected to select the replacement for outgoing state Sen. John Boccieri by the middle of next week.

The Mahoning County Democratic Party’s executive committee last week selected ex-Mahoning County Commissioner David Engler, a county school board member; Struthers Councilman-at-Large Daniel Yemma, the county treasurer office’s chief deputy treasurer; and Poland Trustee Robert Lidle.

The other three counties in the district have made their recommendations as to who should succeed Boccieri.

Stark County chose only Alliance Councilman-at-Large Steve Okey. Carroll County also recommended only one: Brian R. Thomas of Perrysville, who lost the 2004 race for the 18th Congressional District.

Tuscarawas County Democrats selected Thomas, Lidle, and Stacia Erdos Littleton, former television news anchor at WYTV in Youngstown.

The six recommended candidates are expected to be interviewed next Monday by the four-member Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus’ leadership team. The candidate selected by the team will be presented for approval to the full 11-member caucus sometime between Dec. 16 and 18.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com