Candidates lend thousands to their election campaigns

A sitting judge has more than $100,000 in
outstanding loans.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Running for elected office in Mahoning County is so expensive that candidates are lending 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 Thursday.

The job pays about $120,000 annually.

Judge Franken of Beaver Township spent $75,955 on his campaign, primarily on television and radio commercials, as of Feb. 13.

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

D’Apolito spent $72,989 on his campaign, including $51,133 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 13. Like Judge Franken and many running for elected office, D’Apolito’s biggest expense is media advertising.

The two other candidates in the common pleas race didn’t file pre-primary financial disclosure reports by Thursday’s deadline.

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

This judicial position pays about $120,000 a year in salary.

Incumbent Judge Mark Belinky of Boardman lent $10,000 to his campaign as of Feb. 13.

That’s small change compared with his opponents.

Judge James Lanzo of Struthers Municipal Court lent $58,000 to his campaign. Susan Maruca of Poland lent $59,100 to her campaign.

“I don’t want to spend it, but I’ve got no choice,” Judge Lanzo said. “To be competitive, you’ve got to spend money. I’m in it to win it, and to do so, you’ve got to spend money. The biggest cost is TV time. It’s unbelievable.”

Commissioner Anthony T. Traficanti of Poland recently borrowed $10,000 from his mother. His challenger, Eric C. Ungaro of Poland, borrowed $5,000 from his father.

John F. Shultz of Boardman lent $12,000 to his county treasurer campaign.

David P. Aey of Boardman was recently removed from the ballot as a sheriff candidate by the Ohio Supreme Court. Before that, his campaign took a $20,000 loan from his father.

skolnick@vindy.com