29 seek Senate seat of Boccieri

By David Skolnick

There reportedly are concerns about two of the Mahoning County hopefuls.

The six candidates nominated by county Democratic parties in the 33rd Ohio Senate District to succeed outgoing state Sen. John Boccieri now have a lot of company.

The Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus chose to reopen the process and allow candidates to apply for the spot directly to them by Friday. Overall, 29 candidates — current and former officeholders, failed candidates for other elected positions and political newcomers — submitted letters of interest and r sum s.

The caucus’ four-member leadership team will spend the weekend reviewing the applications. The team will decide by Monday how many of the 29 applicants will join the six nominated candidates when interviews begin late Tuesday. Because of the number of applicants, the leadership team may have to interview some of the candidates Wednesday.

The goal is to make a recommendation to the full 11-member caucus Thursday and announce Boccieri’s replacement Friday.

Boccieri is resigning at the end of the month to take a seat in the U.S. House.

Sources close to the caucus say the process was reopened because some members have concerns about selecting ex-Mahoning County Commissioner David Engler, a county educational service center board member, and Poland Trustee Robert Lidle because of past legal problems.

Engler was No. 1 on the Mahoning County Democratic executive committee’s list of recommended candidates. Lidle was third on the list and was also included among the top three candidates from Tuscarawas County.

The four other county party nominees are: Struthers Councilman at-large Daniel Yemma; Alliance Councilman at-large Steve Okey; Brian R. Thomas, of Perrysville in Carroll County, who lost the 2004 race for the 18th Congressional District; and Stacia Erdos Littleton, of North Lima, a former WYTV-TV news anchor.

Joining the six are 25 candidates from Mahoning County, three from Stark County and one from Tuscarawas County.

The Mahoning applicants are:

UHeidi Hanni, an attorney who lost the March Democratic primary for county prosecutor and a 2000 Ohio House race.

USusan G. Maruca, an attorney who spent more than $100,000 to finish in last place in the March Democratic primary for county probate court judge.

UJohn P. Brown III, past national commander of AMVETS who served two years as then-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr.’s military and veterans’ liaison.

URobert Crow, who received 236 votes last month as a write-in candidate for the 13th Congressional District seat.

UWilliam H. Adams, group leader for Mahoning Valley for Obama.

URichard Gozur, a high school principal and former Campbell officeholder who lost an Ohio House primary in 2006.

UDavid B. Green, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1714 at the General Motors plant in Lordstown.

UAnne Marsico, a law school student at Capital University, Columbus.

UBoardman Township Trustee Robyn Gallitto, an attorney who unsuccessfully sought the nomination of Democrats in Mahoning and Stark counties.

UMichael Alexander, a surveyor with the Mahoning County engineer’s office.

UPatricia Gibson, Springfield Township fiscal officer.

UEileen M. Gilmartin, a political consultant who was a local radio personality under the name Casey Malone. She is the daughter of Atty. Vincent E. Gilmartin, a former Mahoning County prosecutor.

UDonald J. Rosa, co-owner of a Curves Fitness Center in Poland and former vice president and general manager of Aero-Chem in Boardman.

UJohn C. Berg, a self-employed sales agent for Aldon Carpets.

URichard Knapik, a self-employed investment trader/researcher.

UAlbert Morar, an information manager for a law firm.

UFelix Carbon, a Democratic precinct committeeman.

UAlden Chevlen, an attorney.

UEric Ungaro, a special-needs teacher who lost a March Democratic primary for a county commissioner seat.

UDavid Sisk, legislative aide to state Rep. Mark Okey, and who unsuccessfully sought the nomination of the Stark County Democrats.

URufus G. Hudson, an ex-Youngstown councilman who unsuccessfully sought the nomination of Mahoning Democrats. He also lost a 2006 Ohio House Democratic primary.

ULane D. Lawrence, an associate at Macy’s.

UBoardman Township Trustee Kathy Miller, who lost a 2006 Ohio House race as a Republican.

UJoe Schiavoni, an attorney.

UTom Green, a lobbyist.

The Stark County candidates are:

UKathleen Purdy, a teacher who unsuccessrully sought a recommendation from Stark County Democrats.

UMike Chunko, who works in steel sales and manufacturing and lost a 1993 race for Lexington Township trustee.

UBeloit Councilman Timothy Gabrelcik, also a health educator with the Stark County Health Department.

The Tuscarawas candidate is:

UDaniel van Epps, a doctoral candidate at West Virginia University.

skolnick@vindy.com