Friday, December 19, 2008
Democratic Party chairmen in Mahoning and Stark counties are disappointed.
YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus selected a 29-year-old attorney, who’s practiced law for about three years and has no political experience, as a state senator.
The caucus unanimously selected Joe Schiavoni, of Canfield, on Thursday to replace outgoing state Sen. John Boccieri in the 33rd Ohio Senate District.
The district’s largest county in terms of population, by far, is Mahoning. It also includes all of Carroll County and portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties.
Schiavoni beat out 12 other candidates interviewed Tuesday and Wednesday by the caucus’s leadership team.
Of the other 12 candidates, six are current or former elected officials.
While there were many strong candidates and the decision was difficult, Schiavoni stood out as the best, said incoming Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro, of Liberty, D-32nd, who was in charge of the selection process.
“I want to invest in the future of the Mahoning Valley,” she said. “He has the roots in the community. He’s an attorney who helps working people, he’s highly electable, and he’ll represent the district well. He has a commitment to serve that makes him a great public servant.”
Cafaro and Schiavoni said they first met each other during the interview process for this job.
“I have the least connection to Joe Schiavoni” of any of the 13 candidates, Cafaro said.
Schiavoni’s father, Louis, is an attorney, and his grandfather, Joe, was a civil service leader in Youngstown and was a longtime friend of ex-state Senate President Harry Meshel.
Meshel as well as Bruce Zoldan, a prominent local businessman, and Kenneth A. Carano, the governor’s regional director for the Mahoning Valley, supported the appointment of Schiavoni.
Schiavoni said a combination of a “strong family in the area and my ability to relate to people” got him the appointment.
“They want someone energetic,” he said. “I know I have a lot to learn.”
Ex-Mahoning County Commissioner David Engler, the No. 1 pick of Mahoning County Democrats for the seat, criticized the selection.
“In a fiscal crisis and a time when Ohio is hemorrhaging jobs, Sen. Cafaro handpicked a friend with no experience to do the difficult work of the people,” he said.
Mahoning County Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini also called Schiavoni “the handpicked candidate of Sen. Cafaro.”
The caucus had asked the four counties in the 33rd District to recommend up to three candidates to replace Boccieri.
But after the recommendations were made, the caucus members, not pleased with its choices, reopened the process and asked candidates to apply directly to them.
The Mahoning Democratic executive committee recommended, in order, Engler, Struthers Councilman at large Daniel Yemma and Poland Trustee Robert Lidle.
Because of Engler’s and Lidle’s past legal problems, some caucus members were concerned about the selection.
“I’m disappointed the caucus ignored the process they created,” Antonini said. “This is an individual our local party hasn’t even met. We’d like to put a face with a name.”
Antonini said she didn’t know anything about Schiavoni until a reporter from The Vindicator told her about him.
The Stark Democratic executive committee nominated only one candidate, Alliance Councilman at large Steve Okey.
Okey had little to say about the selection except to offer his congratulations to Schiavoni.
But Stark Democratic Chairman Johnnie Maier had a lot to say.
Maier complained about the lack of communication he received from the caucus, saying he had to rely on a reporter from The Vindicator for information about the process.
The 11-member caucus, which will add Schiavoni as its 12th member Jan. 5, “disrespected” the Democratic parties in all four counties with the appointment.
“Nobody knows him; I’m sure they’ll have great success in getting him elected” in 2010, Maier said with sarcasm. “There’s only 12 of them for a reason.”
Republicans outnumber Democrats 21-12 in the Senate.
skolnick@vindy.com