Candidates loan money to their campaigns

YOUNGSTOWN — Running for elected office in Mahoning County is so expensive that candidates are loaning thousands of dollars to their campaigns to keep pace with their opponents.

Judge Timothy E. Franken, who is running to retain his common pleas court seat, has outstanding loans from himself and family members totaling $101,272 as of Feb. 13, according to pre-primary election finance reports filed today.

The job pays about $120,000 annually.

Lou A. D’Apolito of Boardman, one of the judge’s three challengers in the March 4 Democratic primary, has loaned $25,000 to his campaign.

In the probate court race, the three Democrats seeking to advance to the general election loaned a combined $127,100 to their campaigns.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator or vindy.com